16yo charged with Ipswich grandmother’s stabbing murder

New information has come to light about the teenagers accused of being involved in the brutal stabbing of a beloved Queensland grandmother.

A group of five teenagers allegedly involved in the brutal stabbing of a grandmother may have stolen alcohol from a bottle shop prior to the killing, police say.

One of the group, a 16-year-old boy, has been charged over the murder of 70-year-old Vyleen White.

Ms White was doing her grocery shopping at Town Square Redbank Plains Shopping Centre when she was allegedly stabbed in the underground carpark around 6pm on Saturday.

The grandmother had doubled back to check her car was locked when police allege she was fatally stabbed in the chest before her car was stolen for a 20-minute joyride.

Security footage emerged of the moment heavily-armed police scoured the backyard of a home at Bellbird Park, southwest of Brisbane, at 3.30pm on Monday.

Police arrested a 16-year-old boy at a unit complex in the suburb at 2.45pm. He was charged with murder, the unlawful use of a motor vehicle and stealing.

The 16-year-old was found and charged with the murder of the grandmother. Picture: Facebook

Tactical police swarmed the suburb of Bellbird Park looking for the boy. Picture: Facebook

Four others – two 15-year-old boys and two 16-year-old boys – have also been charged with unlawful use of a motor vehicle.

Detective Acting Superintendent Heath McQueens said police were now looking into whether alcohol was stolen from a bottle shop in the lead up to the alleged murder.

“The offences this group may have been involved in prior to the murder of Vyleen are under our investigation and will form our brief of evidence,” he said.

McQueens labelled the alleged stabbing a “horrendous crime” and said some of the boys involved were brought in by the parents, who condemned the behaviour.

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CCTV shows youths at the shopping centre an hour before Vyleen White’s death. Police are investigating whether alcohol was stolen from a bottle shop in the lead-up to the alleged murder.

Ms White was a grandmother and former teacher. Picture: Supplied

Police allege the woman’s Hyundai Getz was stolen and then dumped nearby 20 minutes after the attack. Picture: Queensland Police

Vyleen’s tragic last moments

It has been revealed Ms White had visited the supermarket to buy groceries before heading to bible study when she was allegedly confronted by a group of youths.

Her eldest daughter Cindy Micallef told A Current Affair Vyleen was heading into the shopping centre on a run-of-the-mill grocery run when she returned to her car to double check it was locked.

It was then alleged she was confronted by the teens.

Ms Milcallef said it would have been her mum’s nature to have been cooperative with someone if they needed a car.

“She would have said ‘here’s the keys’. She would have said ‘I don’t care, take it’, as long as we are safe.

Five teenagers have been arrested and charged over the alleged incident. Picture: Nine News

Two other 16-year-old boys and one 15-year-old boy have been charged with unlawful use of a motor vehicle. They will all appear in court today. Picture: Nine News

Victor White, the blind partner of Vyleen, said he was struggling to come to terms with the alleged murder.

Mr White said he would have been celebrating his 50th anniversary with Vyleen soon.

“All I knew, she went to (the) shop to get a few quick items and sitting here, hearing all police sirens going on and not long after, I get the knock on (the) door saying she was gone,” he said through tears.

“When this (person) stabbed my wife (they) stabbed four of us in the heart.

“(They) didn’t just kill her, (they) killed four of us with her.

“Justice has to be done, not for my sake, for the memory of Vyleen.”