‘Only the good die young’: Makai’s family open up as police probe death

Seven-year-old Makai Wanganeen’s family has described him as a “happy-go-lucky, bubbly, charismatic kid”, as it’s revealed he first complained of stomach pains three days before he died.

This is little Makai Wanganeen, the Craigmore boy whose tragic death is the subject of a second major investigation involving possible criminal neglect.

The seven-year-old died on February 10 – three days after first complaining of severe stomach pains.

Police are investigating Makai’s death as a case of possible criminal neglect – a probe being conducted by the same task force established to investigate the death of Munno Para girl Charlie from malnutrition 18 days ago.

Task Force Prime is also examining the care of other children, aged between seven and 16.

A close family member of Makai, who did not want to be named, described the heartache of his death back in February.

“He was a happy go lucky, bubbly, energetic and charismatic kid,” she said.

“It’s true when they say only the good die young. It’s the ones who shouldn’t go that do.”

She said Makai loved gymnastics and parkour.

“He certainly had some moves, he could do the splits, all of those sorts of things,” she said.

“He’d play sports at home with his siblings like most kids.”

Makai Wanganeen died in February at the age of just 7. Picture: Supplied

In a heartfelt Facebook post on the day of Makai’s funeral in March, his father Shane Wanganeen spoke of his sadness at losing his son.

“From the bottom of my heart, I would like to show my appreciation to all that have helped and support me throughout this tragic event,’’ he said on his page, which has since been deleted.

“Words can’t really express how much (I) feel and what I really want to say to you all.’’

Makai Wanganeen was the first person to be laid to rest at the new Kaurna Repatriation area at the Smithfield cemetery.

“What a historic moment this will be and yet it will be the saddest for me,’’ Mr Wanganeen stated.

Makai Wanganeen’s tragic death is the subject of a second major investigation. Picture: GoFundMe

One neighbour, who wished to remain unnamed, said Makai “was such a happy, cheerful little guy”.

“I was just gutted when I heard he died. I walked around in a daze for a couple of days.”

Another neighbour Gordon Walters said several police detectives were in the street on Sunday.

“There was a lot of activity … it sort of concerned me that there was a bit going on in the street all of a sudden,” he said.

He was shocked when he heard a boy had died.

“That’s sad … I’m actually shocked by that because the neighbourhood here is generally pretty quiet,” he said.

Review to begin ‘immediately’

Premier Peter Malinauskas has appointed former police commissioner Mal Hyde to conduct a review of government agencies and their interaction with the families of both children leading up to their deaths.

Mr Hyde, who was SA police commissioner between 1997 and 2012, will take over the existing review established by the government last month, following the establishment of Task Force Prime.

Mr Hyde’s review will begin immediately and he will work cooperatively with Task Force Prime detectives.

On Tuesday morning, Mr Malinauskas said his main concern was for other vulnerable children the state government may not be aware of.

“That’s the thing that worries me most, is there a child out there right now that could be subjected to criminal neglect that the government should have known of?” he told ABC Radio Adelaide.

He said Makai’s family was known to DCP but the extent of their interactions will be part of Mr Hyde’s review.

He said any state government employee who failed to do their job properly would be held to account.

“But I don’t want to discount the possibility that people on the frontline doing this work from the Department of Child Protection within SAPOL, health … these are people working on the frontline in the most complex and difficult circumstances that most South Australians really have no consciousness of,” he said.

Major Crime officer-in-charge Detective Superintendent Des Bray said a post-mortem following Makai’s death identified several serious health issues, but he stressed Makai’s death had no connection with the death of Charlie.

“There is (alleged) neglect and abuse which we believe has occurred over a period of time”, he said.

Information from various child protection authorities obtained by a coronial direction 10 days after Makai’s death and provided to task force detectives last week had provided sufficient grounds to commence a criminal investigation.

Prior to that investigation being launched Makai’s death was being treated as a coronial investigation by Northern District detectives.

What happened to Makai?

Makai’s relatives have claimed on a GoFundMe fundraising page that he first complained of severe stomach pains on February 7 and had seen a doctor and x-rays had been conducted. The next day the doctor had contacted Mr Wanganeen to make another appointment after noticing the x-rays indicated Makai was constipated. The doctor had prescribed Makai laxatives.

Makai reported feeling worse on February 9, was unable to properly move and was starting to hallucinate.

The relatives say on February 10 Mr Wanganeen rushed Makai to the Lyell McEwin Hospital because his stomach pain had become worse and more x-rays were done on his swollen abdomen.

Shortly after that Makai went into cardiac arrest and was revived twice by doctors. Emergency surgery was performed to try and locate any cause of his intense pain, but nothing was located.

Following that surgery Makai was placed in an induced coma and transferred to the Women’s and Children’s Hospital, but shortly after arriving he went into cardiac arrest again, but could not be revived.

Shane Wanganeen at the gravesite of his son Makai. Picture: Supplied

Makai Wanganeen was the first person to be laid to rest at the new Kaurna Repatriation area at the Smithfield cemetery. Picture: Facebook

Mr Wanganeen had been looking after six children since November 2020, with Makai’s mother not living with the family at the time of death.

Supt Bray would not provide further detail as to why his mother was not living at the home.

“I won’t go into that, because that’s a matter that was handled by DCP and I’m not going to try and speak for another agency,” Supt Bray said.

Supt Bray said an interim cause of death had been determined, but current investigations prevented police from going into further detail.

He said the Task Force had spoken to a person in relation to the death, but urged any neighbours, friends or acquaintances with any information to contact police.

Supt Bray confirmed child protection agencies had been in contact with Makai’s family before his death, but said he “would not pass judgment” on their involvement.

“Nobody wants to see children die. Every death needs to be fully investigated,” Supt Bray said.

“It‘s the start of the investigation … and we have to be fair in the way we go about it. Major Crime is independent of those other (child protection) agencies.

“One (death) is too many, and if we have any deaths of children we will look into the cause and circumstance, anything that‘s preventable (and) the interactions from all agencies involved, whether it be police, child protection or education.”

A GoFundMe page set up by Makai’s relatives had raised $8745 for the family before being removed.

“Makai’s sudden passing has been a tough time for his parents … and the rest of his family. Any support and contributions made will support Makai’s family immensely,’’ it stated.