NSW Coroner steps in after Lasonya Dutton’s family slams police response to death

The family of the mother-of-two had slammed the police response after her body was found in the backyard of her family home in a remote outback town.

The NSW Coroner has stepped in over the death of a “happy go-lucky” mother-of-two whose body was discovered being eaten by dogs in the backyard of her family home.

The family of Barkindji woman Lasonya Dutton, 31, has slammed the response of NSW Police after her death, saying it was “poorly investigated” and left them searching for answers.

Lasonya is one of six Aboriginal women whose stories are being investigated by The Advertiser in Dying Rose, a podcast in which their families question whether they were murdered and whether police properly responded to their deaths.

Her decomposed body was discovered just metres from her family’s kitchen window in the remote far-western NSW town of Wilcannia on March 29, 2022, four days after she went missing in the small community.

Following inquiries by The Advertiser, the NSW Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) said it was further investigating Lasonya’s death and was working towards a coronial inquest.

“DCJ extends its deepest sympathies to the family of Lasonya Dutton and all those who knew and loved her,” a spokesperson said.

“The investigation is still progressing, and the Crown Solicitor’s Office has been instructed by the NSW State Coroner Teresa O’Sullivan to assist her.

“As the matter is subject to an ongoing investigation, it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time.”

Lasonya’s father, Keith Dutton, said this felt like the family’s first step towards justice after months of horrifying trauma – and the first time their voice had been heard.

“It’s not a thing to be happy about, but I’m happy … they’re on the right track. Things are looking up,” he said.

Keith said key witnesses were never interviewed by police at the time of Lasonya’s death despite appeals from the family.

The only time NSW Police spoke to Lasonya’s uncle Merle Dutton, who found her body, was “when they asked him to leave” the home following the discovery of her body. No formal statement was ever taken.

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Her final cause of death was found to be “unascertained” in an autopsy report, but NSW Police claimed they had conducted a proper investigation – a statement that left Keith baffled.

In the report, it was found that police “could not rule out third party involvement”.

“I don’t know how the police come to the conclusion that a full investigation has been done,” Keith said.

He said officers and major crime detectives did not ask for a formal statement from him or other family members who all had information about Lasonya’s whereabouts and who she was with before she died.

“The only time that I spoke to the police was when they told me to leave (because) it was a crime scene,” Merle said.

Lasonya Dutton died in Wilcannia, NSW, in 2022. Picture: Supplied

Merle Dutton, Lasonya's Uncle, was the person who found her body. Picture: Dijana Damjanovic

“That was the only time that I spoke to the police and I don’t know what happened after that.

“If you ask me anything, I think they just sweeping Sonya under the carpet. We want to find out how she died but they not gonna tell us that.”

In a statement to The Advertiser, the NSW Police said they had engaged with Ms Dutton’s family on a number of occasions following her death – an assertion Keith denies.

“Officers from Barrier Police District commenced an investigation into the death of a 31-year-old woman on Tuesday 29 March 2022 under Strike Force Moay,” the statement said.

“The investigation has explored various lines of inquiry regarding the circumstances of the woman’s death, which will be included in the report to the Coroner.”

Keith now hopes a coronial inquest will be launched – and his family may finally find answers.

Originally published as NSW Coroner steps in after Lasonya Dutton’s family slams police response to death