‘Disturbed’ childhood of young mum found dead in Bondi

More details of a young mum’s life before being tragically found dead in Sydney this week have been revealed.

A young mother found dead in Sydney this week had a “disturbed” childhood that robbed her of a chance at a normal life, a source close to the family says.

Yolonda Mumbulla, 19, died in her North Bondi apartment on Tuesday morning in an incident police are investigating as a potential drug overdose.

Ms Mumbulla was known to police and recently faced court on a raft of theft and fraud charges, something her family was unaware of.

Loved ones have remembered her as a kind-hearted but troubled young woman whose death has come as a shock despite her personal challenges.

Yolonda Mumbulla was found dead in her North Bondi apartment on Tuesday. Photo: Supplied

She has been remembered as a “sweet” young woman. Photo: Supplied,

A friend, who asked not to be named, said as a child Ms Mumbulla was the “sweetest” girl but her life began to destabilise in her teenage years.

Ms Mumbulla moved between different family members’ homes and high schools in the Macquarie Fields area of Sydney’s southwest in her youth.

During her mid-teens, she moved to Wollongong to live with her mother.

The friend said that while there the teenager began to mix with a bad crowd and experimented with drugs.

”She was a very disturbed girl,” they said.

The teenager moved between homes and schools.

She died in Sydney’s east this week.

Police were called to the young Indigenous woman’s home about 9.20am on Tuesday by her partner, Aaron Carey.

Mr Carey is not accused of involvement in her death but was arrested on an outstanding warrant for larceny offences.

The 32-year-old was arrested at the scene and faced court for theft charges on Wednesday.

Another man, 34, was later charged at a separate apartment with drug possession offences.

Ms Mumbulla’s friend said she was a “light and unique soul” who deserved to escape the “badness” that surrounded her life.

“It’s a very heartbreaking situation,” they said.

“It’s sad because she never got to live a proper life.

“She was such a friendly person and made an impact on everyone, she was extremely sweet and made everyone laugh with her contagious laugh.”

It’s understood Ms Mumbulla’s young baby was living with a family member at the time of her death.

Friends demand answers

Alyah Pera, who knew Ms Mumbulla since primary school, said it was hard to believe the young mother had died just a week since they last met.

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

Another close friend, Isabelle Pike was sure that Ms Mumbulla would have been an “amazing mum”.

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

“We’re so angry… we just want answers.”

Police are investigating the circumstances of her death. Picture: Jonathan Ng

A GoFundMe page set up by Ms Pera to pay for her friend’s funeral has raised more than $10,000 this week.

“With such sad and sudden news, we ask for your help in giving her a beautiful send off,” she wrote.

“Yolonda always had such an uplifting spirit, she was funny, full of joy and she was always there to help anyone.”

Investigations under Strike Force Eacham continue.

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