Australia - Coonabarabran - Woman in custody over death of two children - Coonabarabran, New South Wales

[Marg944]

Monday, 05 May 2025 04:21:48 PM

Just after 2pm today (Monday 5 May 2025), police attended a home in Coonabarabran, following reports of a concern for welfare.

Upon arrival, police located two children – aged 8 and 10 – deceased, and a woman.

The woman – aged 66 – was taken to Coonabarabran Police Station and is assisting police with their inquiries.

There is no further information available at this time.

Inquiries are ongoing.

Latest News - NSW Police Public Site

www.police.nsw.gov.au

 

[Marg944]

Grandmother arrested after two children found dead in NSW home​

Two children have been found dead inside a home and their grandmother arrested in a tragedy unfolding in country NSW.

https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/grandmother-arrested-after-two-children-found-dead-in-nsw-home/news-story/5d8f11361e53b0c56b4b3bdc55a5a4d4

 

[Marg944]

Just after 2pm today (Monday 5 May 2025), police attended a home on Emu Lane, Coonabarabran, following reports of a concern for welfare.

Upon arrival, police officers attached to Orana Mid-Western Police District located two boys – aged 6 and 7 – deceased inside the home.

The woman – aged 66 – was arrested at the scene and taken to hospital for further assessment where she remains under hospital guard.


The woman and children are known to each other.

A crime scene has been established.

There is no ongoing threat to the community. Police are not looking for anyone else.

Officers from Orana Mid-Western Police District are now investigating the circumstances of the deaths under Strike Force Darnum, assisted by detectives from State Crime Command’s Homicide Squad.

Latest News - NSW Police Public Site

www.police.nsw.gov.au

 

[Marg944]

The boys are dead’: Gran’s frantic call before two kids’ bodies were found​

“A tragedy is unfolding in Coonabarabran after a 66-year-old woman was arrested following the discovery of two deceased children aged six and seven.

A grandmother called the Department of Communities and Justice claiming her two primary school-age grandsons were dead and she needed help, before police rushed to the rural home and discovered their little bodies.”

https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/grandmother-arrested-after-two-children-found-dead-in-nsw-home/news-story/5d8f11361e53b0c56b4b3bdc55a5a4d4

 

[Marg944]

dbm

 

[Marg944]

Brothers aged 6 and 7 smothered to death, grandmother arrested​

“Ambulance officers and police were confronted with a horrific scene during a welfare check in central west NSW on Monday afternoon.”

https://www.news.com.au/national/nsw-act/crime/police-to-allege-grandmother-smothered-the-two-boys-to-death/news-story/291ef8040796d96c66eb0b46f7d56531

 

[Marg944]

“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 north-western New South Wales on Monday afternoon.

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.

It is understood 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 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.”

Search for answers as town comes to terms with alleged murder of young boys

The boys aged 6 and 7 – one of whom lived with cancer – were found dead at a Coonabarabran home. Their grandmother is accused of killing them.

www.smh.com.au

OMG!!!!!! Another case of death under foster care….. or kinship care……. Are these people screened?????????

 

[Marg944]

“An assistant police commissioner, Andrew Holland, told reporters on Tuesday afternoon: “There was concerns enough for the young children involved to be placed into the care of their grandmother. That person was deemed suitable by the law to … manage those young people.”

Coonabarabran grandmother in mental health facility after ‘confronting’ deaths of two young boys

Grandsons aged six and seven found dead at NSW property in case police are treating as double murder

www.theguardian.com

 

[Marg944]

“Providing an update on Tuesday afternoon, Assistant Commissioner Andrew Holland said the 66-year-old grandmother had attempted self-harm when police arrived.”


I wonder why she waited until Police arrived to attempt self harm???????





“The grandmother - who is known to police - is expected to be charged with murder.”

https://www.skynews.com.au/australia-news/crime/claim-grandmother-called-about-death-of-her-grandsons-inside-nsw-coonabarabran-home-before-selfharm-attempt/news-story/ca93e7640d7d3152c014498d76c348e8

 

[tlorik]

"Known to police" - what does that mean???

 

[TootsieFootsie]

'More harm than good': Why there's concern over a commonly used police term

You may have heard the term 'known to police' in the news. There is no clear-cut definition for the phrase, according to a policing expert, prompting concerns around stereotyping and legal risk.

www.sbs.com.au

'More harm than good': Why there's concern over a commonly used police term​

You may have heard the term 'known to police' in the news. There is no clear-cut definition for the phrase, according to a policing expert, prompting concerns around stereotyping and legal risk.​

What does the phrase 'known to police' mean?​

There is no clear-cut definition of what 'known to police' means, according to Dr Michael Kennedy, policing studies professor at the University of New England and a former detective. 

"Technically anyone — whether you’re a victim, witness or offender to a crime — would be interesting to police," he said.

He said all kinds of interactions can lead to someone catching the attention of authorities and it didn't necessarily mean the person had been charged with a crime.

"For instance, someone who buys a business previously owned by a criminal could have their details taken and saved," he said.

 

[TootsieFootsie]

Grandmother likely to face 'serious charges' after deaths of two young boys

The Coonabarabran community in north-west NSW is in shock today after the "incomprehensible" deaths of two boys aged six and seven.

www.abc.net.au

Police sources said the boys' school contacted the Department of Communities (DCJ) when they did not arrive at school, the DCJ then spoke to the grandmother who reported the boys' deaths, but is not believed to have made any admissions.

That prompted the police to do the welfare check.

 

[tlorik]

Thanks for the info Tootsie!

 

[Marg944]

Goddam red flag right there……..


“The boys’ grandmother does not have a criminal record but had complained about depression in the past.”

https://7news.com.au/news/coonabarabran-boys-failed-to-show-for-school-before-their-bodies-found-inside-home-and-grandmother-arrested

-c-18604286

 

[Marg944]

 

[drsleuth]

Goddam red flag right there……..


“The boys’ grandmother does not have a criminal record but had complained about depression in the past.”

https://7news.com.au/news/coonabarabran-boys-failed-to-show-for-school-before-their-bodies-found-inside-home-and-grandmother-arrested

-c-18604286

404 page not found Marg

 

[Marg944]

404 page not found Marg

Thanks Drsleuth, here is the link…..

‘They failed to show up for school’: The harrowing reason police discovered boys’ bodies

The children have been remembered as ‘little firecrackers’ who loved sport.

7news.com.au

 

[Marg944]

Looks like they have charged the grandmother

 

[Marg944]

“She and the children lived at the home with her partner, who was not present at the time of the tragedy.”

Search for answers as town comes to terms with alleged murder of young boys

The boys aged 6 and 7 – one of whom lived with cancer – were found dead at a Coonabarabran home. Their grandmother is accused of killing them.

www.smh.com.au

Wonder if the partner saw any red flags before this?

 

[Eloise]

"Known to police" - what does that mean???

As that article TootsieFootsie shared said its a fairly vague, not necessarily useful term. I know in the UK it means 'person who is in our intel system for any reason'. But reading between the lines of the articles with this event, and the fact its not because she has a criminal record, I think it might imply that police have been made aware of mental health/welfare concerns in the past.. JMO