Family member pays tribute to Andrea and Deanna Coughlin

A close family member living far from where two women found dead inside their Queensland home wants to know how they went unnoticed for so long as she pays tribute to a “quiet little soul”.

A close family member of two women, who had died some time before their bodies were discovered in their Rockhampton home, says she feels heartbroken and helpless over the tragedy.

The woman, who did not want to be named and lives hundreds of kilometres away from the Coughlins’ hometown, has questioned why it took so long for the bodies of Andrea Coughlin, 44 and her mother Deanna, 81, to be discovered.

She said neighbours had called for a welfare check after noticing the car had not been moved and other clues too confronting to publish.

Long-held fears were realised for the family member who said she had always tried to keep the lines of community open with the mother and daughter and the last contact she had was with Andrea in July this year, describing the messages as “very erratic”.

Subsequent calls and messages went unanswered.

It was not the first time she had received random and erratic messages from Andrea, who she described as having “major mental health issues” that were a “major concern of mine”.

Andrea Coughlin, 44, (pictured) was found dead inside her Rockhampton home with her mother Deanna, 81 on September 10, 2022.

“I was worried,” she said, adding she’d believed somebody in the neighbourhood would check in.

Last weekend however she received a call from another family member with the tragic news.

“He said … there was a welfare check being done, the bodies have been found, they’ve been decomposing for a period of time, he said it’s quite back,” she said.

“I’m just heartbroken, I’m devastated.”

The woman said the mother and daughter had been well-known in the Rockhampton area but she believed she was one of the few people in close contact with Deanna since 2017 due to her daughter’s behaviour.

This publication previously reported on a disturbing message trial which pointed to Andrea’s troubled few years and court history.

Police at the Bank Street house, Park Avenue, on September 11, 2022.

The family member said she was “very emotional” about the tragedy, especially given the likely time frame before their bodies were found and wants answers about what happened in the lead up to the tragedy.

“I’m angry, I’m very angry,” the woman said.

“I didn’t know where to step in.

“I just need to know (what happened).”

Meanwhile, the woman wanted to pay tribute to Deanna.

The last picture she’d seen of the frail family member was of her blowing a kiss at Christmas in 2021.

Deanna Coughlin, 81, (pictured) was found dead inside her Rockhampton home with her daughter Andrea Coughlin, 44 on September 10, 2022 after neighbours called for a welfare check at the Bank St Park Avenue property.

“Deanna was a very quiet little soul … she had a lovely little personality,” she said.

“She always had a little giggle when I’d talk to her.

“She had a little cheeky personality about her.”

Police are still investigating the deaths and are awaiting autopsy reports.

If this story has raised issues for you, phone Lifeline 24 hours on 13 11 14.

Originally published as Family member pays tribute to Andrea and Deanna Coughlin