An 18-year-old mother, Tarsha Golightly, died on July 27 outside her cell at the Dame Phyllis Frost Centre, a maximum-security women's prison in Melbourne. Her death is not being treated as suspicious but will be the subject of a coronial investigation and a workplace investigation.
Golightly had a life marked by hardship, including time in the care system, battles with drug addiction, and losing custody of her own child. Social media posts in the months leading up to her death chronicled her downward spiral, with family members expressing concern about her escalating drug use.
Just four months before she died, Golightly posted a photo on social media showing the words "They'll miss me when I'm gone" on her legs, accompanied by a caption expressing a sense of hopelessness. Other posts appeared to show her using drugs, including a meth pipe and a bong, and posing with items resembling weapons.
Friends and family had reportedly urged Golightly to seek help for her drug dependence. One relative commented on a video she posted: "No, this is called drug psychosis. Go wash that crap off your eyes, you look horrible." Another post from a Facebook friend questioned if she was pregnant again, though it remains unclear if she had a second child.
The Dame Phyllis Frost Centre also houses other high-profile inmates, including Erin Patterson, convicted of the mushroom deaths, and former principal Malka Leifer. It is unclear if Golightly had any contact with these inmates or if they were connected to her death.
Reports indicated that inmates had been subjected to several days of lockdown at the facility prior to Golightly's death. These lockdowns, which can confine prisoners to their cells for extended periods, can be triggered by various incidents. The specific reasons for the lockdowns preceding Golightly's death and any potential connection to her passing remain unconfirmed.
The circumstances surrounding the hours immediately before Golightly was found outside her cell are also subject to investigation.
If you or someone you know needs support, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636.