Grandmother of boys found dead pictured as their parents speak out

The biological parents of two little boys found dead in their grandmother’s home have spoken of their children’s ­inseparable bond, as more pictures of the family emerge.

Grandmother Kathleen Heggs, top left, is pictured for the first time since the bodies of young brothers (seen here as babies) Max Johnson, 7, top right, and his younger brother Sam, 6, bottom right, were found in their Coonabarabran home. Pictures: News Corp/ Supplied

The biological parents of two little boys found dead in their grandmother’s home have spoken of their children’s ­inseparable bond.

It comes as the woman who was trusted to care for them is pictured for the first time.

Max Johnson, 7, and his younger brother Sam, 6, were found dead inside a Coonabarabran home on Monday afternoon, after their grandmother Kathleen Heggs told authorities – who called to check why they weren’t at school – that they were no longer alive.

Ms Heggs was arrested and remains in a mental health facility in Orange, where she is being treated.

Police said she was expected to be charged with the murder of the boys.

Grandmother Kathleen Heggs, 66, whose two grandsons Max, 7, and Sam, 6, were found dead in a home in Coonabarabran on Monday.

The boys’ distraught parents Samantha and Troy told The Saturday Telegraph that they never stopped loving their boys, even though Ms Heggs was their full-time carer for legal reasons.

“I lost some of my soul when they took our boys … when I found out they were dead, I felt most of my soul die,” Mr Johnson said.

He said the children moved in with Ms Heggs about five years ago.

That was soon after the youngest boy Sam had undergone extensive treatment for cancer, which he was diagnosed with at birth.

“They were the most awesome boys. Sam is the toughest little boy I have ever seen, how he beat the cancer, and how tough he was. He is my hero and always will be,” he said.

“They absolutely adored each other, I’ve never seen a bond so strong.”

The parents are now preparing to bury their boys and after their karate instructor Peter Wilkie revealed how they were about to get their yellow belt, Mr Johnson said he wanted to make sure they both still received it.

“I would like them both in their karate uniforms, wearing their belts that they earned,” he said.

Sam was 6.

His brother Max was 7.

The boys’ exact cause of death will be determined by a post-mortem but Mr Johnson said when he heard that it was possible they were suffocated, it made him physically sick.

Police said a routine call by the Department of Communities and Justice to Coonabarabran Public School to check on the boys was the first clue something was horribly wrong.

When the school said the children hadn’t arrived that day, a staff member contacted Ms Heggs, who allegedly said the children were dead.

Police and fire crews on the scene outside a home in Emu Lane, Coonabarabran where two children were found dead. Picture: NewsWire / Dean Marzolla

A tribute from a neighbour left outside the children’s home.

Police forced their way into the rural home just before 2pm and found the boys’ bodies in separate bedrooms and Ms Heggs attempting to end her own life.

The close-knit town where the family had lived for the past 11 months held a vigil on Friday night to remember the two boys, and comfort one another.

“In loving memory of the two young lives gone from our community this week … bring glow sticks, stories. Stand in love and strength,” local councillor Kodi Brady posted on social media ­before the vigil, to encourage grieving locals to come along.

Originally published as Grandmother of boys found dead pictured as their parents speak out