Zion Ziggy Sean Goltz had been in foster care for most of his life before he was reunited with his mother Louwanna Goltz

Ramblings, screaming and scrawlings on the wall were the beginning of a downward spiral for Rockhampton mum Louwanna Goltz whose criminal history has been revealed in court documents following the alleged murder of her son Zion.

Flowers, balloons and a stuffed animal line the driveway of the Rockhampton unit complex where Zion Ziggy Sean Ross was found dead on July 30.

Outrage sparked across the country as to why Zion, who had been in the foster system for most of his life, was released into the care of his “mentally unstable” mother who allegedly strangled him to death.

Whistleblowers have spoken out on the issue claiming Zion had been with a foster carer from birth until he was around seven years old.

Court documents also showed he was placed in his mother’s care a year ago against the carer’s wishes and other family member’s advice.

Concerns for his safety had been raised by family members.

According to the police documents Goltz’s mental health had declined in the month up until Zion’s death and “alarmingly” quickly in the last week.

Family members and witnesses told police they heard her yelling incoherently over the last month, particularly when she had been under the influence.

Neighbours had heard her speaking in an unknown language and screaming “f*** off” in the past two weeks.

It all came to a head tragically last Thursday, when police attended the Berserker unit around 2am to discover Zion unresponsive.

Police will allege his mother, Louwanna Thyra Goltz, had strangled him.

Louwanna Thyra Goltz has been charged with the murder of Zion Ziggy Sean Ross.

On that day, about 1am, she was “rambling incoherently about spirits and referencing a covered artist’s canvas”.

Police allege she told a witness she was lying down and watching TV with Zion when a voice told her that “she had to kill him because Child Safety would take him away, and that she herself would end up in a body bag”.

Questions have been raised about why he was put back in his mother’s care.

The Department of Child Safety has denied requests for comment and Minister for Children and Youth Leanne Linard also declined to respond.

There has been no response on whether there will be an inquiry, no response on how often Zion was being checked on by Rockhampton Child Safety Officers and no answer on why he was put back in her care.

It is also understood Goltz had four children, three in the care of another family member.

It is unclear why Zion was authorised by the department to go back into his mother’s care and the other siblings were not.

Ms Linard’s office redirected questions to police stating they were “ unable to comment on individual cases due to the restrictions under our Act.”

The Child Protection Act 1999, current as of November 2021, prevents the department from “disclosing publicly whether an individual or family is known or not known to the department”.

Police at the home in Berserker, Rockhampton. Picture: Vanessa Jarrett

Goltz is of First Nations descent and reportedly kept a well-maintained home.

She was unemployed and did not appear to have a disability or illness.

The police documents note her criminal history of three failure-to-appear charges in 2014, 2016 and 2017 and breaching bail on five occasions during 2016.

Her most recent infractions were a good order offence and assaulting/obstructing police in 2021.

Community members are asking why something wasn’t done earlier and if Zion’s death could have been avoided.

Federal Member for Capricornia Michelle Landry has called out the State Government to take a “good look” at what was happening in children’s services.

“These precious children are taken from grandparents, foster parents, kinship care and given back to irresponsible parents who do not love or care for them,” she said on Facebook.

“It is disgraceful.”

Ms Landry was formerly the assistant minister for children and families, and said she had people from all over Australia contacting her office in “desperation as children have been taken from them and given back to their birth parents”.

“The time has come for major change,” she said.

“‘The system is broken.

“We need to save our children from the poverty and despair they are facing.

“All children want is a safe and loving home, they should be able to have this.”

Zion Ziggy Sean Ross