Three young girls found dead, mother in hospital as NZ police open murder probe

A mother has been charged with murdering her three daughters days after they finished quarantine to start a new life in New Zealand.

A mum allegedly killed her three young daughters just days after they moved to start a new life in New Zealand.

Neighbours reportedly heard “haunting wails” and a woman sobbing at the house, where they had only been living for a week after completing hotel quarantine.

Mum Lauren Dickason, 40, was taken to hospital in a stable condition after cops were called to the grisly scene at 10pm on Thursday.

The woman is due to appear in the Timaru District Court this morning.

Mum Lauren Dickason, 40, with twin daughters Maya and Karla.

Toddler twins Maya and Karla and Liane, six.

She was charged with murdering her toddler twins Maya and Karla, two, and their sister Liane, six.

Their doctor dad Graham Dickason is said to have found them dead when he returned home and was heard screaming: “Is this really happening?”

The family had only just emigrated from Pretoria, South Africa, and settled into their new home in Timaru, on New Zealand’s South Island.

Doctors Lauren and Graham Dickason.

A picture posted online on August 30 shows the smiling girls clutching toy kiwis after they landed in the country.

Graham, an orthopaedic surgeon, and Lauren, also a hospital doctor, are said to have been planning the move to Timaru for some time.

Dr Graham Dickason with daughters, Liane, centre, and twins Maya and Karla.

Family and friends of the Dickason family are reportedly at a loss to comprehend what went wrong in the lead-up to the death of the couple’s three children.

The children’s grandparents, in South Africa, say the whole extended family is “in a state of shock”, according to Stuff.

“The extended families are in a state of shock as we try to understand what happened. We ask for your prayers and support during this very difficult time. We would also request privacy as we battle to come to terms with what has happened,” they said.

Those who know the couple describe the mother as “very humble” and “the nicest person”.

“I cannot comprehend what happened - she is a medical doctor and she wasn’t arrogant or anything like that. She was very humble,” former colleague and neighbour, Natasja le Roux, told the Sunday Times in South Africa.

“She was really just a nice person, she and her husband.”

The former neighbour said the couple had struggled to conceive their children and were dedicated and loving parents.

“They waited years for those children because she had troubles with fertility and stuff, so it really is a big shock,” le Roux said.

Meanwhile, Aoraki Area Commander Inspector Dave Gaskin said it was a very difficult time for the community, following a fatal crash that recently killed five teenagers.

“Police are working with our partner agencies to ensure that support is wrapped around those most directly affected by the tragic events of last night, and the wider community, and we urge anyone who needs support to reach out,” he said.

Timaru Mayor Nigel Bowen said the community will be devastated by the tragedy.

“Again, unfortunately. It seems that the community has had layers of tragedy with the five young lads that passed away so it‘s really tough,” he said.

A seven-year-old girl and her three-year-old twin sisters were found dead after emergency services were called to a property in Timaru shortly after 10pm Thursday 16 September, 2021., Picture: NZ Herald

He said the area where the incident took place is “just a typical suburb” and relatively quiet.

“I think the community will be thinking, why is it happening to a place like ours?” he said.

“There’s a lot of pressures on society at the moment, you have to question the support around mental health, are we doing things right in this country? I question that we’re probably not.”

Neighbours have told local media they heard a man screaming and crying, saying, “Is this really happening?”

Jade Whaley, who lives next door to where the homicide took place, told the NZ Herald that at about 9.40pm last night, she and her husband heard banging, followed by sobbing and moaning.

“We went outside and realised it was coming from the neighbouring property,” she said.

“Everything got cordoned off. We weren’t sure what had happened but we knew something significant had happened.”

Later on, they saw a woman being supported while she walked into an ambulance.

She said they also saw a man taken away in a police car.

Karen and Brad Cowper, who also live in a neighbouring property, told Stuff they called police just after 10pm when they heard a man screaming and crying.

“We asked him if he was OK. He did not respond to us and was screaming and crying hysterically,” Ms Cowper told the publication.

She said they heard the man saying, “Is this really happening?”

– with NZ Herald

Originally published as Three young girls found dead, mother in hospital as NZ police open murder probe