‘Heart-wrenching’: Man, woman charged with 2022 murder of 12-year-old Gold Coast girl

A man and woman have been charged with the murder of a 12-year-old girl who was found unresponsive in 2022.

Police have claimed the care for Tiffani Scholten was “insufficient and directly related to her death” after a man and woman were charged with the 2022 murder of the 12-year-old girl.

Tiffani was allegedly found unresponsive on the Gold Coast on April 18 2022.

She was later declared dead at a Coomera residence.

Carrissa Kaye Scholten and Aaron Paul Richardson, who were known to Tiffani, have now each been charged with a single count of murder.

The pair did not appear before Southport Magistrates Court when their matters were first mentioned on Tuesday afternoon.

Gold Coast District Vulnerable Persons Unit Detective Inspector Paul Fletcher said paramedics received a call about 8.16pm on April 18 in 2022 with reports a 12-year-old girl wasn’t breathing.

“Queensland Ambulance service attended the address and was confronted with an extremely emaciated child that unfortunately had passed away,” Inspector Fletcher said at a press conference on Tuesday afternoon.

“It was a very confronting scene when they got to the address for both the ambulance officers and police as well, and I think anything that involves a child is always traumatic for people to deal with no matter what their profession.”

Tiffani Scholten was found unresponsive at a Coomera residence on the Gold Coast in April 2022.

Police were called to the scene and a major investigation was launched, with inquiries by Queensland child protection detectives finding insufficient care for Tiffani “directly related to her death”.

“The evidence that they gained showed that the care for this child was insufficient and directly related to her death,” Inspector Fletcher said.

It’s understood Tiffani had medical issues including Rett syndrome, a rare condition that affects a person’s brain development.

Inspector Fletcher confirmed paediatricians, child specialists and other experts were “relied upon” during the investigation, and agreed a large part of the investigation was determining the cause of Tiffani’s death was separate to her medical conditions.

“A lot of background investigations and evidence had to be gathered due to some medical complications of the young girl which added to the time it took to gather that evidence,” he said.

“It had a number of complexities to it which added to that time delay but in these matters, they’re of a very serious nature so we don’t leave any stone unturned.

“Any type of medical condition has to be examined thoroughly and we have to rely on experts to provide information to police to assist us.”

Inspector Fletcher earlier said the investigation had been “heart-wrenching” and has caused the community significant pain.

“The investigation into the death of this young girl has been one of the most heart-wrenching and complex we’ve had to conduct. From the moment the investigation commenced, our priority has been to seek justice for this innocent child,” he said.

“It is deeply distressing to investigate the death of any child, but the circumstances surrounding this case have been particularly confronting for our officers. Our detectives have worked diligently, using every resource available to ensure we could bring this investigation to a close and ensure that those responsible face the full weight of the law.

The man and woman charged with her murder were known to Tiffani, police said.

“We understand the grief and pain this has caused the community, and we hope these arrests bring some level of comfort to those who knew and loved this young girl,” he said.

“While nothing can undo the tragic loss of life, we are committed to ensuring justice is served.”

A full brief of evidence has been ordered to be prepared by October 25.

Ms Scholten and Mr Richardson’s matters will be mentioned again on November 8.

The pair were both excused from appearing.

Court documents for Ms Scholten reveal she still lives in Coomera — where police allege the murder took place — and her occupation is listed as “unemployed”.

Mr Richardson now lives in Redland Bay and his employment is listed as “unknown”.

Emergency services were called to a Bellagio Crescent home at Coomera about 8pm on April 18, 2022.

Police said at the time they found “no obvious cause of death” and Tiffani had suffered from a “number of health conditions”.

Gold Coast District Vulnerable Persons Group Detective Senior Sergeant Greg Aubort earlier said police had received “various levels of co-operation” from the family.

He also confirmed police had never been to the home or encountered Tiffani prior to the incident.

Sergeant Aubort would not elaborate on the medial conditions Tiffani had been suffering from.

“Suffice to say we’re in consultation with pediatric specialists and experts in the field of the conditions that we’re talking about,” he said.

“It’s certainly a case that we need to separate the implications of the medical conditions that Tiffani was suffering from and any other possible factors that may be contributing to the death.”