Mother and daughter found dead at Rockhampton – Andrea Coughlin’s history

A disturbing message trail from a daughter, who together with her mother was discovered dead in a Rockhampton home, points to a troubled past. VIDEO, UPDATES. *Distressing content

Sad clues online and outside the home where Andrea Coughlin, 44 and her 81-year-old mother Deanna were found dead, paint a bleak picture of their final years.

Police have not yet revealed how the women died but no homicide investigation has started.

It’s also understood police do not believe the women died on the same day.

The timeline of events will likely not be known/estimated until the coronial report has been completed.

An online message trail points to Andrea’s troubled past and requests for support.

Late last year, she posted on her Facebook page “we are looking for someone to mow my mother’s yard … she is desperate … please help”.

A 2020 expletive-laden rant on her page expresses anger at another relative, accusing them of stealing her mother’s “life savings”, while multiple abusive messages from her account on other pages show a pattern of hostility towards others including media personalities.

A post in 2019 simply reads ‘I’m scared … please help me.”

This publication also previously reported on Andrea’s court history.

In 2016 she was in court for an onslaught of text messages sent to another person.

The then 38-year-old pleaded guilty to using a carriage service to menace, harass or offend after she texted the victim 250 times between September and February.

Of those, 136 blank texts were sent in a 25-minute period.

Ms Coughlin, who pleaded guilty to the same offence in 2014, was sentenced to six months in jail and released on a $2000 recognisance and three-year good behaviour period.

Police were called to the Bank Street home she co-owned with her mother on Saturday to conduct a welfare check.

The grim discovery was made about 5.30pm, triggering a major police presence which continued into Sunday.

Neighbours interviewed by this publication said they did not know much about the women.

However, it’s understood the pair may have been deceased for some time.

Signs outside their home warn “Private keep out … No trespassing … No admittance and Beware of the dog.”

Forensic officers wearing protective gear could be seen combing the porch at the weekend before heading inside.

Despite the hive of activity, the quiet street remained so – the only noise coming from rainbow lorikeets feeding in the several bottlebrush trees in the street.

Asked if there was ever any trouble in the area, one neighbour said “Nah, not that I’m aware of anyway.”

“Yeah, very much so a quiet street,” they said, adding news of the deaths was “a shock.”

“Not much normally happens around here.”

A report is being prepared for the Coroner.

*If this story has raised issues for you, support is available 24 hours at Lifeline 13 11 14.