Tarrin-Macen death: Father speaks as murder investigation unfolds

The father of a little boy whose death police believe to be suspicious has called on anyone with information on what happened to his son to come forward.

The father of a little boy police now believe had died before he was found in a backyard pool has added his voice to an appeal for information on what happened to his son.

Andrew O’Sullivan last spent time with his son Tarrin-Macen Kennith O’Sullivan eight months before he died on August 29.

The four-year-old boy was initially reported to have been found facedown in the backyard pool at a Munbura Rd property at Munbura, near Sarina, about 5pm.

Mr O’Sullivan, known as Sully, said he was stunned to learn police now considered his son’s death suspicious, having grappled with his grief in the past two months.

He told this publication, “I just don’t know where my head is at at the moment.”

“Unbelievable. I’m very surprised but … there was something I had in the back of my mind.

“I knew something wasn't right.”

Mackay police have declared a crime scene at a Munbura home after declaring a homicide investigation into four-year-old Tarrin-Macen O'Sullivan.

My O’Sullivan, who lives in Mackay, said police told him Tuesday they now considered Tarrin-Macen’s death was suspicious after post mortem results indicating the four year old was dead before he entered the water.

“As a parent who was only informed by police rocking up on my doorstep … it’s not something I want anyone else to go through,” he said.

“If someone has definitely seen something then they need to contact Mackay police.

“I definitely would love answers knowing what really happened.

Mackay police have declared a crime scene at a Munbura home after declaring a homicide investigation into four-year-old Tarrin-Macen O'Sullivan.

Mackay police have declared a crime scene at a Munbura home after declaring a homicide investigation into four-year-old Tarrin-Macen O'Sullivan.

“If someone knows something, they can’t sit on their hands and say nothing. If it was their own child, I’m assuming they would want someone to come forward.”

The tiny town of Munbura has one major road in and out, lined sparingly with houses boasting large acreage and overlooking kilometres of canefield.

One house along Munbura Rd has been declared a crime scene since Wednesday, with police cars parked in the driveway.

Mackay police have declared a crime scene at a Munbura home after declaring a homicide investigation into four-year-old Tarrin-Macen O'Sullivan.

Mackay police have declared a crime scene at a Munbura home after declaring a homicide investigation into four-year-old Tarrin-Macen O'Sullivan.

Detective Inspector Tom Armitt said Tarrin-Macen was believed to have died before he entered.

“The child was not breathing and had not ingested or inhaled water,” he said.

“The only way someone could enter a pool without doing that would need to be deceased.”

Residents of Munbura Rd have expressed both their sympathy and fear at the investigation in their “friendly but private” community.

“It feels really surreal, it’s so close, you don’t expect this,” one neighbour said.

“A child has lost his life, it’s sad.

“I’m not worried for my safety, but any child who loses their life is sad.”

Another neighbour said she was terrified.

“I’m living sh*t-scared,” she said.

“We don’t have sh*t like this in our neighbourhood.

“I feel really unsafe, we haven’t been contacted by police, but we see police all over our road.”