Baby Ronan’s death sparks SA Police murder investigation

A murder investigation has been launched into the death of a 17-month-old who was taken to the Women’s and Children’s Hospital with severe injuries this month.

Major Crime officers are investigating the death of a 17-month-old baby called Ronan, who was found unconscious and in a critical condition earlier this month.

Ronan was taken to the Women’s and Children’s Hospital at about 6pm on Wednesday, June 7, after suffering head and other injuries.

Ronan died two days later.

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Detective Inspector Mark McEachern said police believed Ronan’s injuries were caused by an assault which occurred sometime on the afternoon of Wednesday, June 7.

Det Insp McEachern said Ronan was being cared for by friends known to his parents in the two days prior to the alleged assault at an address on Ferguson St in Glenelg North.

The 17-month-old was returned to his father’s house at Ottoway on the day he was admitted to hospital.

Baby Ronan was taken to the Women’s and Children’s Hospital earlier this month with serious injuries. Picture: SA Police

The death of baby called Ronan on Friday, June 9 has been declared the subject of a Major Crime murder investigation. Picture: SA Police

At 4pm that day, he was unable to be roused and an ambulance was called.

Police are appealing for anyone who saw Ronan in the lead-up to his death, or who heard or saw anything involving a young child on Ferguson St on the afternoon of Wednesday, June 7, to come forward.

Police are also searching for dashcam footage from the area.

Det Insp McEachern said the death of “beautiful little boy” Ronan was being investigated as an alleged murder and anybody who had contact with or who cared for Ronan was being spoken to by police.

Child protection services had not been involved with Ronan’s care prior to his death, Det Insp McEachern said.

“This is a tragic set of circumstances and we appeal for anybody who might have seen something to contact Crime Stoppers,” he said.

“We suspect the injuries were caused at Glenelg North on that Wednesday afternoon.”

Police have provided an image of a pram they believe Ronan was being pushed in on the Wednesday afternoon before his death, appealing for anyone who may have seen the pram on Tuesday June 6 or Wednesday June 7 to contact them.

“There’s not a specific time we can say that Ronan’s been pushed except for about 3pm on Wednesday, which was when we believe Ronan was taken from Glenelg North to his parents’,” Det Insp McEachern said.

Det Insp McEachern said Ronan’s injuries were such that it may have been “not obvious” to others that he had been hit prior to his death.

“There was a short moment of time before the father realised he was unable to rouse Ronan from his sleep … he was presented at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital at about 6pm, so it was a fairly short window of time,” he said.

“Our suspicion is that Ronan’s been returned home, apparently asleep, and had sustained injuries prior to that.”

Police declined to provide further details about the family friends who were caring for Ronan.

No arrests or charges had been laid as of Tuesday afternoon.

Police said they had been provided with an explanation of how Ronan’s injuries were caused but were “not satisfied as to the truthfulness of that information”.

Det Insp McEachern said he could not comment as to whether the carers who had Ronan prior to his death were known to police, but confirmed they were not connected to any other government departments – such as the Department for Child Protection.

Ferguson St, Glenelg North resident, Wendy, following the investigation in the suspected murder of baby Ronan. Picture: 7News.

One residents from Glenelg North told 7News, “it is a very sad, tragic thing that’s happened,” while resident added, “it is upsetting to be honest, especially in this kind of area were you think it’s pretty safe”.

Another neighbour, Wendy, living in a complex unit on Ferguson St, said another neighbour had seen baby Ronan, and had heard crying sounds coming from a close by unit.

“The (resident in the) apartment (below) had told me that there was a lot of movement in the afternoon, like putting up music loud, and she heard the baby crying,” Wendy told 7News.

“I think really think anything of it, one day when I came to look out I did see someone with a pusher.

“Only when the forensic people came on the Sunday, we sort of thought, what’s happened. We just got told that a child had been hurt,” she said.