Social worker visited ‘just hours’ before family’s triple murder at Hillier property

EXCLUSIVE: Child protection authorities were in “active contact” with the family killed in Monday’s triple tragedy. It’s understood social workers visited the home just hours before a mum and two children died.

Adeline Yvette Rigney-Wilson lived with her two children, Amber and Corey

• CHARGED: Triple murder accused appears in court
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• GALLERY: Pictures from the murder scene

CHILD protection authorities were in regular contact with the mother and two children who were murdered north of Adelaide on Monday.

The Advertiser has been told Families SA social workers conducted a welfare check at the Hillier property where Adeline Yvette Rigney-Wilson, 29, lived with her two children, Amber, 6, and Corey, 5, just hours before they were killed.

Families SA would not confirm if social workers visited the property as recently as Monday. The agency issued a general statement confirming staff had been in contact with the family.

“Social workers were in active contact with the mother and children,’’ it said. “It would be inappropriate and disrespectful to the deceased to publicly elaborate on the nature of support being provided.

“As with any event of this magnitude, the appropriate authorities will examine the circumstances around the deaths and the department will participate in and support that process fully.”

Child Development Minister Susan Close declined to comment.

Adeline Yvette Rigney-Wilson. Source: Facebook

Adeline Rigney-Wilson's children, Corey and Amber.

Court documents, meanwhile, allege that the accused killer led two witnesses to the victims’ bodies.

Steven Graham Peet, 30, of Evanston Gardens, appeared on Tuesday in the Elizabeth Magistrates Court.

Still wearing the same blue police-issue jumpsuit he was given upon his arrest, Peet appeared dishevelled as he was led into the dock from the holding cells. He looked up only once, showing visible bruising under each of his eyes.

Andrew English, for Peet, said his client would not be seeking bail and Magistrate Brian Nitschke remanded him in custody until August.

In the court documents, it is alleged the man whom Peet approached then asked a second man to enter the house with them. It is alleged the two men were able to find only the bodies of Ms Wilson-Rigney and Corey, and so alerted police. It is alleged police conducted a search after their arrival, locating Amber’s body.

Adeline Yvette Rigney-Wilson’s mother Donna Rigney is consoled by Yvette’s sister Juanita. Picture Roger Wyman

The documents also allege that, when spoken to by police, Peet provided details about events at the house, including the fact the deaths occurred at some time that morning. He allegedly said he did not fully recollect the incident but remembered having an argument with Ms Wilson-Rigney.

Sam Burnell, who was the first on the scene, said he found Corey’s body in a play tent.

“Three people — I just can’t understand it ... why someone would do this,” he said, adding: “(They’re) totally innocent.” He said he’d knocked Peet unconscious once he realised what had happened.

Gallery: Farmhouse tragedy at Hillier

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“I was in tears, I had to — it was just a natural response,” Mr Burnell said.

Peet’s Facebook page features several anti-domestic violence posts, including a video showing a sports spectator punching a man who had verbally harassed a woman.

Another post states: “The day you raise your hand on a woman, that day you’re officially no longer a man”.

The page also features photos of Peet’s distinctive throat tattoos — three skulls wearing headphones, sunglasses and a bandana in a parody of the “three wise monkeys”.

FOR ADVICE OR SUPPORT PHONE

Victim Support Service on 8231 5626 or 1800 182 368

Domestic Violence Crisis Service on 1300 782 200

Domestic Violence Gateway Service on 1800 800 098

National Sexual Assault, Domestic and Family Violence Counselling Service on 1800 RESPECT

In an emergency, dial SA Police on 000