Girl, 11, reported dead at Auchenflower home
UPDATE: Police have appealed for public help to shed more light on the domestic situation of a family after a child was discovered dead in her inner-city Brisbane home this morning.
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POLICE have appealed for public help to shed more light on the domestic situation of a family after a child was discovered dead in her inner-city Brisbane home this morning.
The appeal came as police questioned the father of the 11-year-old girl after the child’s body was discovered in the bathroom of the unit.
Acting Superintendent detective Geoff Sheldon asked for anyone who knew the family to come forward to help shed more light on their domestic life.
“If you know any of the family yourself ... we’d be keen to hear what you can tell us that might fit together with the piece of information that we’re looking for,” Supt Sheldon said.
Police said the 65-year-old father, who was asleep in one of the living areas of the penthouse unit, was arrested without charge following the discovery of the body. It is understood he is unclear about what happened leading up to the girl’s death last night.
“His assistance has been of great help, trying to work out more about family life - the dynamic, what’s going on around the house,” Supt Sheldon said.
“The relationships and the history to this whole tragic scenario.”
Police confirmed the couple’s other daughter, an eight-year-old girl, was at a friend’s house when her sister was discovered deceased in the home.
“Her health and well being has been a very large aspect that we’re trying to look at today in conjunction with the Department of Child Safety,” Supt Sheldon said. “And the Department of Child Safety have basically assisted us with that and taken over aspects of the care and future arrangements for the surviving sister.”
It is understood the married couple have no other immediate family members around the Brisbane area.
Anyone with information should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
EARLIER: Friends of the family left shattered after the bodies of a Brisbane mother and daughter were discovered overnight have arrived at their home to tearfully lay flowers.
Outside the Auchenflower unit, one lady, who declined to give her name, described the mother as “the loveliest person”.
“She really just does everything for everyone,” the woman said.
“I’m very upset.”
The mourner’s husband, who comforted her as she lay flowers, said the deceased woman had helped him when his wife went to Japan.
“I just really want to say she was absolutely lovely,” he said.
Students and staff at the school the girl attended are being offered support.
The 11-year-old girl has been remembered as an “enthusiastic, high achieving and friendly” young girl.
Principal Paul Zernike said the community was in deep shock and sadness.
“She was an enthusiastic, high achieving and friendly young child who will be greatly missed by all her friends and teacher,” he said in a statement.
“Our thoughts and sympathies go out to the family, caregivers, friends and loved ones during this difficult time.”
“Support is being provided to students and staff, and guidance counsellors will remain at the school to prove support in any way they can and for as long as it is needed.”
The mother’s body was found by members of the public in Toowong about 5.20am, just hours after her daughter’s body was found in the bathroom of the family’s Auchenflower unit.
The daughter’s death is being treated as suspicious, with police saying she met a violent end.
The mother’s death is not being treated as suspicious.
Another daughter, aged eight, was not home at the time of the incident. The father, 65, was asleep during the incident and is assisting police with enquiries.
EARLIER: Girl, 11, met a “violent end”
AN 11-year-old girl whose body was found in the bathroom of a Brisbane unit has been described as beautiful and polite.
The girl’s body and that of her mother were found in inner Brisbane suburbs overnight, just blocks apart from each other.
Police are investigating the “suspicious” death of the girl, who they say met a “violent” end.
Police said the 11-year-old girl was found dead in the bathroom of an Auchenflower unit about 1.50am, while the body of her 49-year-old mother was found about 5.20am in nearby Toowong.
The mother’s body was found by members of the public.
Sheryl Hall, who cleans units in the Auchenflower apartment block, described the 11-year-old girl and her eight-year-old sister as “beautiful little girls” who were “always polite”.
“(They were) very quiet, little smiley children,” Ms Hall said.
“Both of them well behaved ... always polite. They would just always say good morning.”
The family — the two girls, the mother and their 65-year-old father — lived in the Auchenflower unit. The sister was not home at the time of the incident. The father was at home and is helping police with their enquiries.
“Nothing could have been more horrific ... it’s been a violent death,” Supt Sheldon said.
“We’re currently investigating the circumstances behind the whole incident.
“It’s just an appalling tragedy all around that two members of this family are now deceased.”
The mother’s death is not being treated as suspicious.
Police said they were called to the Dunmore Tce address in Auchenflower after concerned friends of the family raised the alarm following some issues earlier in the evening.
“There was a call from concerned people just to go and check on how they were,” he said.
“There were some issues in relation to the relationship earlier that night.
“So police have gone around and been confronted with the deceased child.”
He said officers and paramedics were confronted with a “traumatic” scene at the apartment.
Supt Sheldon explained the girl was found dead in the bathroom, while the 65-year-old father was asleep in the unit.
“He’s horrendously upset,” Supt Sheldon said.
“And he’s with us at the moment trying to explain what’s gone on in relation to the whole night’s affairs.”
Supt Sheldon pulled up short of labelling the tragedy a murder-suicide.
“We’re only in the early stages of the investigation at the moment, so we’re trying to piece together what’s happened and how this has all unfolded in such a tragic way,” he said.
Police said they were working to ascertain how the 11-year-old girl died and who was responsible.
“We have a family who has been literally decimated,” Supt Sheldon said.
“We don’t know who fits where as far as the puzzle goes but I’m sure more will become apparent as we continue our investigations.”
Supt Sheldon said the tragic circumstances surrounding the deaths could have a “ripple effect” impacting the entire community.
EARLIER: Second body confirmed as girl’s mother
A MOTHER and daughter have been found dead in inner Brisbane suburbs, just blocks apart from each other.
Police confirmed the 11-year-old girl, who was found dead in the bathroom of an Auchenflower unit about 1am, was the daughter of a 49-year-old woman whose body was found about 5.20am in nearby Toowong.
Officers said they had visited the Auchenflower unit for a welfare check and said the girl had met a “violent” end.
“Nothing could have been more horrific ... it’s been a violent death,” Detective Acting Superintendant Geoff Sheldon said.
The mother’s body was found by members of the public on Benson St, Toowong, about three hours later.
“We are currently investigating very tragic circumstances,” Det. Act. Supt Sheldon said.
“We’re trying to get to the bottom of how things have happened.”
Police said they were trying to determine how the child died and “who was responsible for that”.
UPDATE: Police have found second body in Toowong - investigating if it's connected to Auchenflower body. #9News pic.twitter.com/CpB46jIcId
— Nine News Brisbane (@9NewsBrisbane) December 7, 2015EARLIER: Second body found
POLICE are treating the death of an 11-year-old girl at an inner-city Brisbane home overnight as suspicious.
A police spokeswoman said officers responded to reports of the death of a child after being alerted after 1am.
She was found inside a home on Dunmore Terrace, Auchenflower.
Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death, but referred to it as a “suspicious death”.
It comes as a second body has been reportedly found at a separate address just blocks away from Dunmore Terrace.
Queensland Ambulance Service said a deceased person, believed to be an adult woman, was found at an address on Benson St, Toowong, about 5.20am.
Police confirmed they were attending an incident at Toowong but would not give details.
It is not known if the two incidents are related.
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