Grandmother stabbed to death at shopping centre in ‘cowardly’ attack

Police have released CCTV footage and images of four persons of interest who they wish to question in relation to the stabbing murder of a 70-year-old grandmother in front of her granddaughter at a shopping centre car park near Brisbane.

Emergency services were called to the Redbank Plains car park in Ipswich about 6.10pm on Saturday following reports of the stabbing.

The woman, identified as Vyleen White, had sustained life-threatening injuries in what police have confirmed was an armed robbery. She died at the scene a short time later after attempts to revive her failed.

Her six-year-old granddaughter was also assessed at the scene, but was not physically injured.

At a press conference on Sunday afternoon, Detective Acting Superintendent Heath McQueen said apprehending the offender and ensuring the community feels safe is of the utmost importance to police.

He also appealed to anyone in the Redbank Plains or Springfield Lakes areas who saw a light-blue 2009 Hyundai Getz with Queensland registration 432 TYO between 6pm and 7pm on Saturday, or who has dashcam or CCTV footage of the vehicle, to contact police.

The car, which belonged to White, was driven from the shopping centre after the incident and was found at Springfield Lakes on Sunday morning.

Detectives from Ipswich and the Homicide Investigation Unit released an image of the vehicle after it was seized for forensic examination.

“This is a significant investigation and I want to thank the community of Ipswich in the last 24 hours,” McQueen said.

“I will release the footage today of the four persons of interest who have exited that vehicle, and I’ll make an appeal to the community to assist us … so we can locate those four persons, bring them into custody, and talk to them in relation to this homicide.”

McQueen said only one person was believed to be involved in the attack, however, when the vehicle was dumped 30 minutes later, four individuals exited the car.

“This is a murder of a 70-year-old grandmother in front of her six-year-old granddaughter,” McQueen said.

Vyleen White, who was murdered during an armed robbery in Redbank Plains on Saturday night.Credit: Nine News

“Now is not the time to remain tight-lipped; now is the time … for everybody to come together and provide us with the information we need to identify the offenders.”

Earlier, McQueen described the incident as an “abhorrent, cowardly and violent attack”.

“Many seasoned police that I’ve spoken with this evening, including myself, that have reviewed the footage are taken aback at the level of violence,” he said.

Witness and local Emmanuella George said she now felt unsafe. “This type of stuff doesn’t happen in this area,” she told Nine News.

Another witness, Dean Van Derwal, told Nine the victim’s granddaughter “just looked traumatised. She didn’t really know what was going on.”

Ipswich district officer superintendent Kylie Rigg said police had already been increasing patrols and visibility around the area and would continue to do so to restore community confidence and safety.

The light-blue Hyundai Getz seized following the fatal stabbing of 70-year-old Vyleen White in Redbank Plains on Saturday night.Credit: Queensland Police

“I appreciate the community are very much concerned for their safety [and] are very angry about what’s occurred,” Rigg said.

“We have a number of shopping centres in that location and I will make sure that police are there …we will make sure that we’re out and about and we are highly visible.”

Rigg also referred to heightened strategies to combat knife crime, including Jack’s Law, which allows Queensland police to scan people using metal-detecting “wands”.

Hundreds of weapons, including tomahawks, knuckle dusters and butcher’s knives, have been seized since the law came into effect in 2023.

On Sunday morning, Premier Steven Miles also described the attack as abhorrent.

“This is a terrible crime, nobody should die the way this woman has, and our police are taking it very, very seriously.

“No doubt they will catch this murderer, and I hope they throw the book at him.”

Opposition Leader David Crisafulli said the fatal incident had rocked the local area and the state.

“How do we get to the point in Queensland where a visit to the shops can cost you your life? It’s senseless.”

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