Southport abduction: Southport woman dies after child allegedly taken, man charged with murder

A young mum has died after allegedly being attacked and assaulted by the father of her child, who sparked an Amber Alert when he took the 11-month-old.

***This story will no longer be updated. For the latest on Mary Benedito’s tragic death, click here.***

A YOUNG mum has died after allegedly being attacked and assaulted by the father of her child, who he abducted.

The 25-year-old woman was in the Gold Coast University Hospital with “life-threatening injuries” following the attack, which occurred at a unit complex in Southport’s Como Crescent at 5pm Saturday.

A 34-year-old Crestmead man has been charged with murder.

He was initially charged with grievous bodily harm and strangulation.

Members of the woman’s family were outside court.

“Her poor son is lying there waiting for his mum to come back. It’s not fair,” a family member said.

Police were called to the Meriton Suites complex around 5.15pm after a neighbour heard a cry for help issued an amber alert.

At about 12:15am the child was brought to Crestmead Police Station in a safe condition by two women, believed to associated to the man, according to Detective Inspector Chris Ahearn.

The child is in police care.

Insp Ahearn said the man and woman are the child's biological parents.

He said the pair are currently estranged and live apart.

Investigations are looking into their relationship and why they were together at the apartment.

The woman is not believed to be from the Gold Coast and investigations will look into why she was in Southport.

The man was arrested in Oxley shortly after at 12.30pm, Insp Ahearn said.

“The male person was located in proximity to the Oxley Motor Inn. He ran from the scene and a foot chase took place,” he said.

“With the assistance of the police dog squad we were able to apprehend that person.”

The man has had bail opposed and will appear in the Richlands Magistrates Court on Monday.

A grey Mazda CZ9, believed to be the car that the man drove with the child, has been seized by police.

The car and apartments at the Oxley Motor Inn and the Meriton Suites have been declared crime scenes.

Insp Ahearn said police have been unable to speak to the woman and the cries of help heard from the neighbour was reported as a male voice.

Police urge anyone in the Meriton Suites apartment who heard or know anything to report it to crime stoppers.

A fundraiser has been launched by the woman’s family with $2,300 so far raised.‘My sister is currently in ICU fighting for her life after getting brutally beaten and abused,” the fundraiser page set up by the woman’s sister states.

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