Mackay drowning: Police rule Tarrin-Macen O’Sullivan’s death suspicious

Little Tarrin-Macen was found unresponsive in the family pool and initially presumed drowned. Police now believe the four year old had died before he entered the water.

A little boy found unresponsive in a pool at a Mackay region family property is believed to have died before he entered the water.

Police are treating Tarrin-Macen Kennith O’Sullivan’s death as suspicious after autopsy findings suggested the four year old had died before his mother reported his drowning on August 29.

Detective Inspector Tom Armitt said little Tarrin-Macen’s death was initially reported as a drowning after he was found facedown in the pool at his mother’s property at Munbura, near Sarina, about 5pm.

Inspector Armitt said in the two months since the boy’s death, post-mortem and scientific examinations had ruled out the possibility he drowned.

“The circumstances surrounding how and why that child was located in the pool remain unknown,” Inspector Armitt said.

“We have done full scientific examinations around the premises and we will continue to do so.

“The post-mortem and scientific (examination) concluded the death was inconsistent with drowning.”

Tarrin-Macen Kenneth O'Sullivan died in Mackay Base Hospital after he was pulled unresponsive from a pool at a Munbura property on Sunday, August 29, 2021. Picture: Contributed

Mackay detectives, with the Child Protection Investigation Unit and the State Child Trauma Unit helping with the investigation, have appealed for anyone in the vicinity of the property on August 27 who may have noted something to come forward.

“The family have been helping us with our investigations and we have been speaking to a number of persons in the surrounding area,” he said.

“We are dealing with the death of four-year-old boy, a small child who relies heavily on the care of other people.

“His death is treated with the utmost seriousness of any other homicide we would be conducting.

“He is a small vulnerable person, which is why we are spending so much time and attention on this investigation.”“Anyone who was in the area at the time who may have driven past the address, may have noticed something that may have been untoward or suspicious, or any movements,” Inspector Armitt said.

“Anyone who may have had contact with anyone at the premises at the time, or whether they have had subsequent conversations with the mother or anyone else since then.”