Mackay police investigating deaths of Kerin Shaw, John Patrick Hackett

Mackay detectives are investigating two alleged homicides, the death of a local musician and a man who may have been attacked on Melbourne Cup day.

Police are on scene at Robb Place in South Mackay following reports of a multiple shooting incident. Picture: Paul Brescia

Mackay detectives are actively investigating two alleged homicides including the death of a local musician for which it can be revealed there are persons of interest.

Andergrove resident Kerin Shaw died two and a half weeks after an alleged violent incident at a Parkview Court home on June 24, 2024.

Senior Sergeant Chris Eaton said days later Mr Shaw went to Mackay Base Hospital “with serious injuries”.

Tragically the 68 year old died in hospital on July 10.

“We’re treating it as a homicide investigation,” Mackay’s Criminal Investigation Branch officer in charge said.

Andergrove man Kerin Shaw, 68, died 2.5 weeks after an incident at a Parkview Court home in June 2024.

“Part of the investigation centres around a disturbance that took place at an Andergrove house on June 24.

“There are persons of interest in relation to the investigation that remains ongoing.”

Mr Shaw’s death is one of four homicides in the Mackay region in 2024.

The second ongoing investigation involves a man allegedly bashed to death in his Gold St home in early November.

John Patrick Hackett was found dead inside his Gold St unit about 7.18am pm November 9 following a welfare check by his family who had been unable to make contact for several days.

Detectives have released CCTV in an ongoing appeal for information following the suspicious death of a 67-year-old Mackay man earlier this month. John Patrick Hackett was located at his unit on Gold Street after a welfare check.

Police declared a crime scene and opened a homicide investigation after receiving extra information including results from a post mortem examination indicating evidence of an assault on the 67 year old.

Police believe Mr Hackett, who was still alive on November 7, may have been attacked on Melbourne Cup Day and released CCTV footage of him at a nearby foodstore in the hopes it might spark someone’s memory.

In a busy year for major crime, two people have also been arrested after two separate murders.

Natalie Frahm was killed on June 19, 2024, with the alleged shooter, Ryan Cole, 31, charged with murder. Picture: Supplied

Natalie Frahm was shot dead as she sat in her car, in front of two young children who had been seated in the backseat of the vehicle as it sat in the driveway of her Robb Place home.

It is alleged Ryan Geoffrey Cole, 31, walked up to the vehicle and fatally shot her in the head and chest about 4.30pm on June 19, sparking a massive police response that included locking down the street and embarking on a manhunt.

Mr Cole, who allegedly fled the scene, was arrested at Paget about 7.45pm. He has been charged with murder over the offence and his matters remain ongoing in court.

31-year-old Ryan Cole is taken into custody following a shooting in Mackay which left one woman dead and a man injured. Picture: Michaela Harlow

Mackay dad Samuel Luke Muntelwit was also charged with allegedly murdering the man he had been staying with at a Rae St home.

Police were called to the address after paramedics found 64-year-old Colin Grohs unresponsive inside the property about 3.40pm on October 2.

Mr Grohs was declared dead at the scene.

It is alleged Mr Muntelwit had been staying with Mr Grohs in some capacity before the pair were involved in a violent fight.

Samuel Luke Muntelwit, 33, is charged with murdering Colin Thomas Grohs at East Mackay between September 30 and October 4, 2024.

Mr Muntelwit, 33, has been charged with murder and his matters remain ongoing in court.

“Homicide is one of those things where you can go for a period of 12 to 18 months and there be none, and then you can get a number in a row,” Senior Sergeant Eaton said.

“They’re terrible and tragic, somebody has lost their lives.

“Mothers, father, brother, sisters, everyone is affected by it.”

Senior Sergeant Eaton said homicides were treated among the highest priority investigations and took “significant investigative resources, time and effort”.

“As it should,” he said, adding detectives would keep pushing for answers and results.
“With these investigations we will work them until every single solitary lead has been run out whether that takes two days, two weeks, two months, five years... it doesn’t matter, we’ll continue to put our investigative resources into that.”