Bundaberg woman charged with murder after death of woman, 73, in Mackay

A Queensland woman has faced court charged over the death of her elderly mother who was found in a makeshift bedroom within a garage. NEW VIDEO, PICTURES

A Bundaberg woman has faced court charged with the murder of her elderly mother Heather Dean, appearing distraught on video from custody.

Sandra Maree Dean faced Mackay magistrates court on Friday morning.

Ms Dean was initially listed as Sandra Maree Hart.

Police prosecutor Ruth Whisker said there may be further charges due to "the complicated crime scene".

Ms Whisker confirmed to the court prosecutions had tendered a replacement bench charge sheet.

Defence lawyer Ancilla Seethya confirmed Ms Dean had applied for Legal Aid.

Magistrate Damien Dwyer adjourned the matter to Monday, October 9 at 9am.

Earlier, detectives had released details into the shock death of the elderly woman.

Ms Heather Dean, 73, from Bundaberg, had been in Mackay staying with close family members on an impromptu visit when she was found dead in a makeshift bedroom within a garage on the Glenella property with “significant head injuries”.

A woman has been charged with murder following the death of her 73-year-old mum in Glenella in Mackay’s northern suburbs. Photo: Heidi Petith

Detective Inspector Emma Novosel said Queensland Ambulance Service had received a call to an address at Burge St about 10.45am in relation to “an elderly woman who had had a fall”.

She said when paramedics arrived the injuries they saw did not seem “consistent with that of a fall” and police were called.

“She had sustained some significant head injuries,” Inspector Novosel said.

“At this stage we have been unable to locate any sort of weapon.”

Police investigations indicated Ms Dean had been “alive and well earlier in the morning”.

“She was staying in a temporary makeshift bedroom in the garage,” Inspector Novosel said.

This is where police found Ms Dean’s body, she confirmed.

There were a number of people at the address when officers arrived including the woman’s 55-year-old daughter Ms Sandra Dean, who had travelled with her mum from Bundaberg for the impromptu visit.

Inspector Novosel said police investigations indicated it appeared to have been “an ordinary morning”.

The property remained a crime scene on Friday. Photo: Heidi Petith

“The deceased and the accused woman were visiting family relatives … they had arrived in Mackay two days ago,” Inspector Novosel said.

It is understood the pair lived together in Bundaberg.

Police confirmed the call to QAS had come from someone inside the home but were tight lipped on who made the call.

“The accused woman is known to us but there is no reported domestic violence history between the deceased and the accused,” Inspector Novosel said.

She said children did live in the home but police investigations indicated they children were not present when the alleged murder occurred.

She said the accused Ms Dean did have children but that only she and her mother had travelled to Mackay for the visit.

Police have been canvassing neighbours within the street and “there are some neighbours that have been able to provide some information”.

“If anyone has any information that they would like to share with police we’d encourage them to contact us. Whether they be from the Bundaberg area or from Glenella,” Inspector Novosel said.

A Bundaberg woman, 73, was found dead inside a Glenella home in Mackay shortly after 11am on Thursday, October 5, 2023. Police then declared a crime scene stating the death was suspicious. Picture: Heidi Petith

Neighbours were shocked by the distressing developments at the property shortly after 11am Thursday.

One neighbour who wished to remain anonymous said she came home and saw a middle-aged woman sobbing in the street.

While another neighbour Rita Scotton said she had come home after volunteering at Ronald McDonald House “and there were load of police in the street”.

“All the neighbours are quite shocked,” Ms Scotton said, describing the street as “family friendly” with “lots of children around the place”.

According to property records, the four-bedroom home where police have declared a crime scene was snapped up in May just two days after being listed on the rental market for $650 per week.

Police officers could be seen taking photographs of a rubbish bin, the side fence, and shelving inside the Glenella home where a mother’s death was declared as suspicious. Picture: Heidi Petith

The home is close to one of Mackay’s largest playgrounds and as officers wearing forensic suits examined through the property, a child on her scooter played in the street.

Investigators were seen photographing a rubbish bin, the side fence gate, the front door, and shelves inside the home. One officer combed through leafy material.

A neighbour says the caravan parked on the front lawn of a property where a mother, 73, died had only been there for about a fortnight. Picture: Heidi Petith

A boat and a caravan were parked on the property’s front lawn, a neighbour telling this publication that the caravan had only been there for about a fortnight.

Inside the home was a red, blue and yellow children’s trike.

Multiple police cars were parked outside a Glenella home, and neighbours were being interviewed, following the death of a mother. Picture: Heidi Petith

Tara Krome, who has lived on the street for just over a year, said she received a message from her sister’s partner to alert her to something happening on her street.

“(I) came home and there’s lots of reporters and police cars and I’m not really sure what’s happening,” Ms Krome said, adding she and her partner walked their dogs everyday and regularly spotted an older man sitting outside the home where there were was now a crime scene.

She said they had also seen a middle-aged woman at the house.

“They always seemed quite friendly, (but we) hadn’t really had any interactions with them … (the news was) a bit of a shock,” Ms Krome said.

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic and family violence, you should report it to police

Support and counselling is available from the following agencies:

DVConnect Womensline: 1800 811 811

DVConnect Mensline: 1800 600 636

1800 RESPECT: 1800 737 732

Originally published as Bundaberg woman charged with murder after death of woman, 73, in Mackay