Death of toddler ‘suspicious’

UPDATE: The step-dad of a toddler found dead in a home north of Brisbane has told reporters he’s not sure what happened to the little boy, while the child’s mother says she wasn’t there when he died.

THE step-father of a toddler found dead in a home north of Brisbane on Saturday has told reporters he’s not sure what happened to the little boy, while the child’s mother said she wasn’t there when he died.

Andrew O’Sullivan, 35, was questioned by police following the discovery of 21-month-old Mason’s body about 12.30am Saturday. He said the boy was blue and gasping for breath in his bed.

He has since been released without charge.

Andrew O’Sullivan. Picture: Facebook

“I put him to bed and gave him a bottle. It was just like a normal night,” Mr O’Sullivan told Channel Nine.

“We kept on doing CPR but it wasn’t working.”

When asked about injuries allegedly seen on Mason’s body Mr O’Sullivan said “Mason always comes up with these tiny bruises.”

Meanwhile the child’s mother, Anne, told Channel 7 in a phone conversation that the child was a “beautiful boy … a social butterfly who loved life, family and his siblings”.

She said she was not present when Mason’s body was discovered but was at her home 1km away from the scene.

Neighbours have set up a GoFundMe page aiming to raise $3000 for his funeral and other expenses.

“We are a group of neighbours that would like Mason to have the farewell he deserves. To help is mum to cope with her pain and grief,” said a post on the fundraising page.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk also commented on the tragedy on Sunday.

“I am completely devastated by hearing about that and I think a lot of families would as well,” she said.

“There is a current police investigation, let the police do their work in relation to that.”

EARLIER: A TODDLER whose body was found in a home north of Brisbane has been remembered as a “cute little boy” who was “full of laughter”, as police probe the suspicious circumstances surrounding his death.

The mother’s partner, Andrew William O’Sullivan, 35, was this morning released without charges after being questioned by officers at the Caboolture watch-house.

Detectives yesterday said 21-month-old Mason had suffered “some ­injuries”.

The victim 21-month-old Mason – “Little Masey was everyone’s right-hand man.”

Paramedics called police after finding the boy dead at the property in Deanne Court, Caboolture South, about 12.30am yesterday.

Mr O’Sullivan’s best friend Tony Johns yesterday broke down after being told of Mason’s death and described him as a good little boy who was always full of laughter.

“Little Masey was everyone’s right-hand man,” he said.

“He would always knuckle punch people as they came over. He was just starting to talk and everything.”

Mr Johns said he was devastated for the mother, who is pregnant to Mr O’Sullivan.
“She would be devastated. Mason’s her youngest.”

Police catalog items removed from the property. Picture: Claudia Baxter

Neighbours reportedly heard screaming and shouting at the home that night.

Detective Senior-Sergeant Stephen Windsor, officer in charge of the Caboolture Child Protection and Investigation Unit, said yesterday that he was unable to say who first called paramedics to the home, which remained a crime scene.

“The man is not formally under arrest. He has been detained by police while we continue investigations. He has not been formally charged.”

He said police would take “one step at a time” as they conducted investigations.

“Any sort of injuries or death with children is very ­upsetting.”

EARLIER: Police say a 21-month-old boy who died in suspicious circumstances at a Caboolture home had “sustained some injuries”.

Paramedics called police after finding the boy dead at the home, on Deanne Court, at about 12.30am.

Police are treating the death as suspicious and a crime scene has been established. A 35-year-old man is being questioned.

Police bringing puppies out of Caboolture home where 19 month old boy died. Man being questioned @7NewsQueensland pic.twitter.com/KBiLqWVt1v

— michelle rattray (@MichelleRattray) June 11, 2016

“In the early hours of the morning police received a call in relation to a deceased 21-month-old child,” Detective senior Sargent Stephen Windsor said.

“Police are conducting an investigation into the circumstances of that.

“The child has sustained some injuries.”

He described the child’s death as “very upsetting”.

“Any sort of injuries or death with children is very upsetting,” he said.

His comments come after neighbours told The Courier-Mail they heard screaming and shouting coming from the home last night.

Forensic specialists continue to search a Caboolture house where body of a 19month old boy found #9News Saturday pic.twitter.com/IpzLfUBBUG

— Darren Curtis (@DarrenCurtis9) June 11, 2016

Det. Sr Sgt Windsor would not say who called the Queensland Ambulance Service to the home last night, nor what they did when there.

“Police are speaking to a number of persons,” he said.

He said the 35-year-old man was not formally under arrest but “has been detained by police while we continue investigations”.

He is currently in the Caboolture watch house.

“It is unknown at this time whether the man will be charged,” Det. Sr Sgt Windsor said.

A friend of the family described the 21-month-old as “a good little boy”.

“He was a cute little boy, full of life and laughter,” the friend said.

Police were this afternoon seen bringing puppies out from the home.

Extra forensic officers at Caboolture where 19 mth old boy died. 35 yr old man being questioned. @ABCNewsBrisbane pic.twitter.com/8GunmAkj2S

— Kristina Harazim (@KristinaHarazim) June 11, 2016