Trouble in final months of young mum’s life revealed

Court documents reveal police searched the Sydney apartment where a young woman was found dead just a few months earlier.

A young mother found dead in her Sydney apartment this week was previously accused by police of using a stolen bank card to pay phone bills and for Spotify late last year.

Yolonda Mumbulla, 19, failed to appear in court to face charges of larceny, possessing a stolen drivers’ licence and obtaining a financial advantage by deception in February.

She was convicted in her absence and fined $1550 – a few months later, she was dead.

Mystery still surrounds her death, with heartbroken loved ones calling for answers over how she lost her life.

Police are investigating misadventure as a cause of death, with news.com.au understanding a fatal drug overdose is one line of inquiry.

Yolonda Mumbulla was found dead this week.

The 19-year-old has been remembered as a happy young mum. Picture GoFundMe

Ms Mumbulla was pronounced dead on Tuesday morning when emergency services arrived at the Hardy St unit where she lived in North Bondi.

In October, according to court documents, police had searched the same unit after after arresting her for theft offences committed around the local area.

Court documents reveal the teenager allegedly stole a debit card and drivers licence belonging to a woman in Rose Bay early in the morning on October 16.

That same morning, she allegedly used the ANZ card to make three transactions, one to Optus, another to Telstra and a third to Spotify.

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Police on the scene after the discovery of the teenager’s body. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Almost a week later, on October 21, she allegedly stole a $300 pair of sunglasses and a bracelet from a North Bondi address.

Police arrested her on October 25 and allege they found “several items in the name of different persons … which may be reasonably suspected of being stolen or otherwise unlawfully obtained” at her unit.

Court records show Ms Mumbulla failed to front up to court on December 6 and was later convicted of the offences in her absence on February 8.

Friends of the teenager said they feared she had been “dragged down” since she moved away from her childhood home in the city’s southwestern suburbs last year.

Yolonda Mumbulla and her partner. Picture: Facebook

The North Bondi unit block she lived in.

Alyah Pera, who knew Ms Mumbulla since primary school, said loved ones had seen her just last week.

“She was happy, she looked healthy,” Ms Pera told news.com.au.

Another close friend, Isabelle Pike said Ms Mumbulla was an “amazing mum”.

“She was still always happy. You never saw her mad, and if you did it didn’t last long,” she said.

Ms Mumbulla’s partner, Aaron Carey, called police to the scene on Tuesday morning.

He was wanted on an outstanding arrest warrant for larceny offences and was arrested.

The 32-year-old is not accused of involvement in his girlfriend’s death and faced a Sydney court yesterday.

Investigations under Strike Force Eacham continue.

If you, or someone you know, are feeling worried or no good, you can connect with 13YARN on 13 92 76 and talk with an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Crisis Supporter