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. Detectives are now combing the property for clues and speaking to shocked locals about the tragedy.
The boys aged 6 and 7 – one of whom lived with cancer – were found dead at the home in central-western NSW on Monday afternoon.
Two junior police officers from the town forced their way into the home on Monday afternoon after the boys’ grandmother contacted a caseworker from the Department of Communities and Justice to say that the two primary schoolers were dead.
Police found the body of the six-year-old in a front bedroom of the home. They quickly discovered the grandmother, who had self-harmed, then the body of the elder boy in another bedroom, NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Andrew Holland told reporters on Tuesday.
The grandmother remains in hospital in Orange under police guard and has not been charged.
“Upon release, she will be handed back to police custody where it is likely she will face serious charges,” Holland said.
She could be released to police in a matter of days or weeks, he said.
Police search the Coonabarabran property where the boys’ bodies were found.Credit: Nine
On Tuesday, investigators were interviewing witnesses and collecting evidence at the property. A post-mortem to determine the cause of death is scheduled for Thursday morning.
The grandmother was the sole carer of the children, Holland said. They moved to Coonabarabran 11 months ago from the state’s Central Coast.
Holland said the small town with a population of just 2500 was coming to terms with the boys’ deaths.
Something like this would affect the community “in a very, very hard way,” he said.
“A death in a small community has an impact on the whole community, the death of two young innocent boys has a major impact.”
The Department of Communities and Justice became involved in the children’s care due to concerns for their welfare several years ago. One of the boys had diagnosed with cancer, sources told the Herald.
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.
The boys’ biological parents had been informed and were not doing well, Holland said.
“Anyone confronted with the death of one child under these circumstances, let alone two, would be struggling,” he said.
There were “no warning signs” ahead of the tragedy, one police source said, and the grandmother had no criminal background or documented history of mental health concerns.
“She was known to police, but not adversely,” Holland said.
She and the children lived at the home with her partner, who was not present at the time of the tragedy.
Warrumbungle Shire councillor Kodi Brady described the boys as two “little firecracker kids”.Credit: Nine
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.
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.
Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
