Tarrin-Macen death: Police reveal fresh detail in investigation

A devastated family remains in limbo while unanswered questions mount of a little boy’s death at a regional property 17 months ago, as police reveal a fresh detail about the investigation.

A devastated family remains in limbo with mounting questions over a little boy’s death at a home near Sarina, as police reveal fresh details regarding the investigation.

Tarrin-Macen Kenneth O’Sullivan would have been six years old on January 5, 2023.

Instead he was farewelled in a tiny coffin as grieving loved ones said their heartbreaking goodbyes.

It is understood this is one of the last photos taken of Tarrin-Macen Kenneth O'Sullivan before he died. He was enjoying himself at a Mackay park with family. Picture: Contributed

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.

It was initially presumed he had drowned but in October 2021 his death was ruled suspicious after police revealed their investigations concluded he had died before he entered the water.

Tarrin-Macen pictured with his father and mother. He died after he was pulled unresponsive from a pool at a Munruba property. Picture: Contributed

Police said in the two months since the boy’s death, autopsy findings had ruled out the possibility he had drowned.

The Munbura Rd property where it is understood he lived with his mother was declared a crime scene.

However the circumstances surrounding how and why he was found in the pool is unknown.

Mackay police declared a crime scene at a Munbura home after declaring a homicide investigation into the four-year-old’s death.

The case remains an open investigation with Mackay’s Child Protection and Investigation Unit.

Detective Senior Sergeant Emma Novosel, who is the officer in charge of the CPIU, revealed police had been liaising with experts in relation to the case.

“It’s an ongoing investigation,” Detective Senior Sergeant Novosel said.

The pool where Tarrin-Macen was found. Police have ruled he died before his body entered the water.

“We’re preparing advice for the coroner.”

A close family spokeswoman, who preferred not to be named, said she had believed two days after his death that Tarrin-Macen had not drowned because water safety and wearing a life vest had been drummed into him.

She said not knowing had been one of the most difficult and frustrating aspects of the tragedy, which had ripped the family apart.

Tarrin-Macen Kennith O’Sullivan was buried in a coffin covered in the characters of his favourite show Paw Patrol. He died in August 2021 and his death remains an open investigations with Mackay's CPIU.

“You never know what’s going to happen, what happened,” she said.

“There’s just too many question marks unanswered – are they going to be answered?”

She was emotional as she recalled reading about a child’s death in the news before learning it was Tarrin-Macen.

A family friend made up shirts for loved ones to wear honouring four-year-old Tarrin-Macen Kennith O’Sullivan, who died in August 2021.

“As limited as he was with words … if he wanted to make a point he got it across,” she said.

The four year old had been diagnosed with autism at 18 months old.

“He had his own little twerks,” she said, adding he was “very bright and bubbly from the get go” and loved Paw Patrol.

“He was always such a happy go lucky kid.”

Some of his loved ones honoured his memory on his birthday with his favourite meal of chicken nuggets at a Mackay park.

“Justice needs to be found for Tarrin.”