Tarrin-Macen death: Mum charged with murder after death of boy, 4, found in disused pool
The mother of a four-year-old boy found naked in a disused Queensland pool has faced court charged with his murder after the boy’s father was briefed by investigators. UPDATES, VIDEO
Police & Courts
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The mother of a four-year-old boy found floating face down in a pool near Sarina has been charged with his murder after a protracted 2.5 year investigation.
Regional Crime Coordinator Detective Superintendent Darrin Shadlow said police arrested Tarrin-Macen’s biological mother Tara Richardson on Friday morning and charged her with murder (domestic violence) as well as interfering with a corpse.
Detective Superintendent Shadlow police would allege Tarrin-Macen was dead before Ms Richardson phoned the Queensland Ambulance Service on the afternoon of August 29, 2021, telling them her son had drowned.
He would not confirm how many hours had passed before Tarrin-Macen had died and when his mother phoned triple-0, but police would allege Ms Richardson was the only one home at the time. The boy was found naked in the pool.
“It was proven that the deceased child was not alive when he entered the (disused) pool … at the back of the property,” Detective Superintendent Shadlow said.
“It only had a small amount of water in it and through the post mortem examinations we believe we can prove that the child was deceased before entering the pool.”
Detective Inspector Shadlow said the evidence would come out in court proceedings but they could show Tarrin-Macen had not ingested any water.
Police do not believe any weapons were involved in the boy’s death.
He said Ms Richardson had lived at Sarina home along Munburra Rd with another man, Tarrin-Macen’s stepfather, but that man was not there the day the four year old died.
He said he would not go into it “at this stage” regarding how the boy died, but there were no other persons under investigation.
He said the “difficult” investigation had been “challenging” for officers as well as the family members involved, with Tarrin-Macen’s father Andrew O’Sullivan “distressed” and “distraught” upon learning his son’s mother was charged for murder.
“However, a little bit of closure for him I suppose,” Detective Superintendent Shadlow said.
He said Ms Richarson no longer resided at the Sarina home and was arrested at a South Mackay address.
Ms Richardson appeared in the Mackay Magistrates Court for a brief hearing on Friday afternoon, wearing a grey sweater with her hair in side ponytail.
She was remanded in custody for a committal mention on March 13, 2024.
“I have no powers to give you bail,’’ Magistrate Damian Dwyer told her.
Under Queensland legislation anyone charged with murder can only apply for bail before a Supreme Court Justice.
Detective Superintendent Shadlow said it was a very complex investigation and police had used the services of medical specialists as well as biomechanic specialists.
“We’ve spoken to a large number of people throughout the investigation … but I also want to acknowledge the tremendous work by the investigators from the Mackay (Child Protection Unit) as well as from the Child Trauma Unit in Brisbane.”
Tarrin-Macen Kenneth O’Sullivan would have turned seven years old on January 5, 2024.
The four-year-old boy was found facedown in the backyard pool at a Munbura Rd property, near Sarina, about 5pm on August 29, 2021.
The day before he had been smiling and enjoying playing at a park with family.
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