source : the age
Two children found dead at a Coonabarabran home on Monday were living with their grandmother after the state removed the boys from their parents’ care several years ago.
The boys, aged 6 and 7, were found dead at the property in central-western New South Wales on Monday afternoon.
Police attend the Coonabarabran home.Credit: Nine
Police were called to the home by a worker from the Department of Communities and Justice, after the boys’ grandmother had sent a text message saying that they were dead.
The woman had attempted to suicide when the police arrived, sources close to the investigation told the Herald. She remains in hospital under police guard and has not been charged.
The NSW Homicide Squad were deployed on Monday night.
Laws protecting the identity of children in state care prohibit this masthead from identifying the primary school-aged children or their grandmother.
Police were called to the home on Monday afternoon, after the grandmother had sent a text message saying the children were dead. Credit: Nine
The Department of Communities and Justice became involved in the boys’ care several years ago. They were removed from their parents, who live elsewhere in the state, towards the end of the COVID pandemic. The boys were then put under the care of the minister and placed with their grandmother in what is called kinship care.
There are no other children in the family.
There were “no warning signs” ahead of the tragedy, the police source said, and the 66-year-old woman had no criminal background or documented history of mental health concerns.
She and the children lived at the home with her partner, who was not present at the time of the tragedy.
In a social media post describing the boys as two “little firecracker kids”, Warrumbungle Shire councillor Kodi Brady said his “heart is broken alongside the whole community”.
“They were amongst it all, 100 miles an hour… wild as march hares and cute as buttons! So devastating for all,” Brady wrote.
“The death of two innocent children will have a long-lasting impact on the town and all those involved,” NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Andrew Holland told 2GB on Tuesday.
Holland said first responders were met by an “unimaginable tragedy” when they arrived at the home.
“The young police involved have obviously been distressed severely by this incident, the sight of a six and seven-year-old boy deceased inside the house,” Holland said.
“Obviously, the concern for the town is great as well … it’s going to have a long-lasting impact right across the board.”
Holland said he expected the woman to be charged once she was medically assessed.
Police will address the media on Tuesday afternoon.
If you or anyone you know needs help, call Lifeline on 13 11 14 (and see lifeline.org.au), 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732), the National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service on 1800 211 028 or Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800.
