Shocking Twist in NSW Child De-a-th Investigation as Forensic Experts Examine Mother Amid Cannibalism Suspicions
Warning: This story contains details of an alleged murder, which readers may find distressing.
Police sources have confirmed to the ABC that cannibalism will form part of an investigation into the death of a four-year-old boy on the New South Wales Central Coast.
The mother of the boy walked into the Wyong Police Station about 4:40pm on Saturday, triggering a welfare check.
Officers searched a unit in Wyong where they found the body of a four-year-old child.
The 32-year-old woman was charged with domestic violence murder and refused bail.
According to court documents, police obtained an urgent court order to forensically examine the mouth of the woman, prior to her being charged.
The court order allowed police to obtain samples of the woman’s internal mouth contents and forensic material, as well as a buccal swab.
It also allowed them to obtain samples of the woman’s nails and material from under her nails.
The NSW Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) said it had previously had contact with the family and would examine all relevant information.
“Given the matter remains the subject of an active NSW Police investigation, it would not be appropriate to comment further at this stage,” a department spokesperson said.
At a press conference on Sunday, Superintendent Chad Gillies from the Tuggerah Lakes District said police were calling for information about the woman and child.
A four-year-old child was found dead in Wyong. (ABC News)
“It was an extremely confronting scene. It’s been confirmed the child had injuries. I am not going to speculate further on what those injuries are,” Superintendent Gillies said.
The woman is not able to be identified, but police confirmed she was known to them.
Police also confirmed the mother and child lived together at the property.
“There is a domestic relationship to the child … the 32-year-old female and the four-year-old child lived at the unit together, and as I understand it, nobody else lived at that unit,” Superintendent Gillies said.
‘Chronic understaffing’ at department, opposition says
Shadow Minister for Families and Communities Natasha Maclaren-Jones said it was a “terrible tragedy” that raised “serious questions”.
“We know thousands of children reported at risk are going unseen because there simply are not enough caseworkers to assess them,” she said.
“Frontline staff are doing everything they can under chronic understaffing and unsustainable workloads, but the system is being pushed beyond its limits.”
The matter is expected to return to court in September.
Government frontbencher Penny Sharpe said the DCJ was “working through their processes”.
“The death of any child is horrific. If it was preventable, that will be dealt with through the processes that we have,” she said.
