Father charged with murder of baby son Beau Bradshaw
The arrest comes more than two months after detectives launched a complex investigation into the baby’s death in June.
Mackay
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UPDATE, 4.41PM: The father of Mackay baby Beau Bradshaw is tonight expected to be charged in relation to the boy's death.
Detective Acting Inspector Mick Searle said the 24-year-old man arrested at an East Mackay home today was Beau's father.
Ayden Bradshaw is expected to be charged with one count each of murder and grievous bodily harm and appear in court tomorrow on those alleged offences.
Acting Inspector Searle said the charges were the result of a "quite detailed, thorough and, at times difficult" investigation involving several specialist police units and Queensland Health experts.
"We will be alleging that Beau suffered traumatic brain injury and other internal injuries hence the murder charge and the grievous bodily harm charge," he said.
"I would like to acknowledge the work that has occurred from the local detectives here from the Mackay Child Protection Investigation Unit and the very substantial and detailed assistance we received from the Child Trauma Unit from our State Crime Command.
"Also, with significant assistance from Queensland Health and from the Department of Child Safety.
"The detectives who led this operation are in the room with me today and have done a fine job to date."
Acting Inspector Searle said detectives acted on information from the government bodies and the public which allowed investigators to map out a timeline in regard to Beau's condition.
"We know that Beau was well at the beach early in the day and … we know that early that afternoon the ambulance was called to his house," he said.
"Without going into express details of what has occurred between then, it has allowed us to (know) when Beau was last a healthy baby and fill in that time insofar as to what has occurred to the point he has had to be taken to hospital."
Acting Inspector Searle said investigators had remained in contact with Beau's family since June 2.
"They've gone through a very traumatic experience dating right back to June 2," he said.
"It's very difficult to imagine the trauma that family has gone through. Understandably they're very upset."
Beau was taken to Mackay Base Hospital the afternoon of June 2 and that night was flown to Townsville Hospital.
He died on June 4, with his organs donated.
EARLIER: A MAN has been arrested in relation to the death of Mackay baby Beau Bradshaw.
Police today arrested a man at an East Mackay home more than two months after the six-month-old baby was found unresponsive in the home on June 2.
Beau's father Ayden Bradshaw, 24, was taken into custody about 2pm and taken to the Mackay police station.
The arrest comes more than two months after detectives launched a complex investigation in June into the baby's death.
The man is expected to be charged.
Six-month-old Beau died in Townsville Hospital on June 4, two days after he was last seen alive and with family at Far Beach in Mackay.
Baby Beau had visited the beach between 9.30am and 11am on June 2 when detectives say he was healthy and well.
Paramedics were called to Beau's East Mackay home at 2pm that day, with the baby boy rushed to Mackay Base Hospital from where he was flown that night to Townsville.
It is understood Beau suffered bleeding on the brain and was declared brain dead, with his organs donated.
The chain of events were subject to a complex investigation before Beau's death was ruled suspicious on June 20, with Detective Acting Inspector Mick Searle appealing for any witnesses at Town Beach the day Beau was there with family to come forward.
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TIMELINE:
Tuesday, June 2: Beau Frank Bradshaw is seen with his family at Illawong Beach, or Far Beach, between 9.30am and 11am. He is "quite well". Later that day, about 2pm, Beau was found unresponsive at his East Mackay home and Queensland Ambulance paramedics are called. He was rushed to Mackay Base Hospital and later that night is flown to Townsville Hospital.
Thursday, June 4: Baby Beau's organs are donated and his life support is turned off. A Facebook post by family says his time of death of 5.11pm.
Friday, June 5: News breaks of baby Beau's death, with police confirming the tragedy was under investigation. An online fundraiser is set up by Beau's family to help cover funeral costs.
Monday, June 8: Beau's grandmother Joelene Pershouse tells the Daily Mercury the panicked phone call she received from her daughter - Beau's mother - started one of the worst days of her life. "We are not sure on how or why. I wish people would not say it was child abuse because I have no doubt in my mind that my daughter and my son-in-law would not harm them," Ms Pershouse said. "They were just the most happy family and the most loving people."
Saturday, June 20: Mackay detectives say Beau's death is now being treated as suspicious, and revealed a timeline of where the baby had been in the hours before he was found unresponsive in his East Mackay home.
Sunday June 21: The grieving mother of a baby boy who police now say died in suspicious circumstances says she deeply misses her "very loved little boy" and has "no idea what had happened" the day he was found unresponsive in his cot. Beau's mother Amiah Perhouse-Yasserie said nothing unusual had happened before Beau was found in his crib coughing, blue and semi-conscious by his father, Ayden Bradshaw.
Monday, August 3: A man, 24, is arrested after a two-month investigation into Beau's death.
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