‘He was perfect in every way’: Ronan Davies’ parents speak out as police launch murder investigation into toddler’s death
The parents of toddler Ronan Davies – whose death in hospital is the focus of a police murder investigation – have paid tribute to their son who was “perfect in every way”.
Police & Courts
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The parents of toddler Ronan Davies – whose death in hospital has sparked a major police murder investigation – have paid an emotional tribute to their toddler son who was “perfect in every way”.
Glenn Davies, 29, and his fiance Melanie Nguyen described their son as a “cheeky boy” who lit up their lives.
“He was playful, he was happy, he was perfect in every way,” the father said outside their northwestern suburbs house at Ottoway on Wednesday.
“His favourite word was no.”
Mr Davies said he still searches for his son every day.
“I can’t count the amount of times I go looking for him,” he said. “I recently bought a dog to cuddle and named it Roo.”
Mr Davies praised police for their efforts and encouraged anyone with information to come forward.
“They’ve been amazing, they’re getting us the support we need,” he said.
“Anyone with information, please speak to police, no matter how significant it may be.”
Mr Davies moved to Adelaide with his partner from Queensland more than a year ago.
It is understood the pair were evicted from a property in the western suburbs in May after police were called. They moved to their new address in Ottoway a short time before Ronan’s death.
In a strange twist, a female friend who is believed to be a focus of police investigations – who cannot be named for legal reasons – has locked down her social media accounts.
Police picked up Ronan’s parents from their Ottoway address on Wednesday afternoon.
Neighbours of the parents have also told of their shocked and devastated for the family.
The family’s neighbour at the Ottoway home said the situation was “beyond any thoughts”.
The neighbour, Belle, who did not wish to give her surname, said the family “haven’t been here long”.
She recalled that the family had only moved in less than a month ago.
“I hope that there’s an outcome and the parents can move on and continue with their lives and not be traumatised,” she said.
Major Crime detectives launched what they described as a murder investigation after the 17-month old boy was found unconscious and in a critical condition earlier this month.
Ronan – also known as Ro – was taken to the Women’s and Children’s Hospital at 6pm on Wednesday, June 7, after suffering head and other injuries but, despite, desperate efforts he died two days later.
Detective Inspector Mark McEachern said police suspected Ronan’s injuries may have been caused by an assault that 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.
Resident at the Glenelg North unit complex, Wendy, said another neighbour had seen baby Ronan and had heard crying sounds from a nearby apartment in the building.
“She told me she heard the baby crying,” she said.
Wendy recalled “seeing someone with a pusher” through her window.
She remembered seeing male and female residents of the block with an infant.
“I thought, they’ve got a baby, that’s nice.”
Wendy said the fate of baby Ronan was “horrifying”.
“You’re living somewhere and you don’t know what going on,” she said.
“Nobody wants to hear about bad things happening to kids.”
His grandmother posted a heartbreaking tribute to social media, revealing organs from their “angel” have been donated to three other children “near death”.
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