Police investigation into death of Mitchell Francis Callaghan, Mackay

A year after their ‘cherished’ but troubled son and brother was discovered dead on a Rockhampton river bank after fleeing police, the Mackay man’s family hopes the Coroner can help give them closure.

Mitchell Francis Callaghan, from Mackay, died on January 27 2023. His body was found on the banks of the Rockhampton Fitzroy River shortly after he had been on the run from police.

January 28, 2024 will mark one year since Mackay man Mitchell Francis Callaghan was found dead at the bottom of a Fitzroy River embankment shortly after running away from police.

As the first anniversary of his passing nears, his family is desperate for answers they hope will come from the Queensland Coroner.

Mr Callaghan, from the suburb of Grasstree Beach, had a chequered past with police and had appeared in court many times over drug-fuelled crime sprees.

The 27-year-old had been released from prison only a few months before his death.

Mitchell Callaghan’s family shared photos of happy times with him.

The son of Pauline and a sister to Sarah, he was remembered as a “cherished nephew and cousin of his loving family”.

A cremation was held for him on February 10 at the Sarina Ian Phillips Crematorium Chapel.

He had attended Mackay State High School for his schooling and had worked as a bricklayer.

Mitchell Francis Callaghan with his baby sister Sarah.

A police statement at the time of Mr Callaghan’s death stated police officers had been called to the Rockhampton suburb of Allenstown in relation to an alleged stolen vehicle that had travelled from the Gladstone area.

At about 11.30pm on January 27, 2023, police officers deployed tyre-deflating spikes on Gladstone Road, Allenstown, and the vehicle continued for some time before coming to a stop near North Street and Victoria Parade, near the Fitzroy River riverbank, which runs through the middle of Rockhampton.

According to police, the driver and sole occupant of the vehicle, Mr Callaghan, abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot through Col Brown Park, the grassy parklands on the edge of the river.

Police patrolled throughout the night but failed to locate him and a search operation commenced at first light the following morning, January 28.

Col Brown Park on the banks of Rockhampton Fitzroy River.

Just after 8am, a member of the public located Mr Callaghan’s body in the river at the bottom of a steep embankment near where he had fled from police.

It was speculated he had hit his head on rocks.

Mr Callaghan’s death was classed as a “death in police custody” and the Ethical Standards Command was appointed to investigate with oversight by the Crime and Corruption Commission.

With the anniversary of the death approaching, this publication requested statements from the investigating bodies on the progress of the investigations.

The Coroners Court of Queensland confirmed “the coronial investigation into the death of a 27-year-old man in Rockhampton in early 2023 is ongoing”.

A spokesperson for the Queensland Police Service stated the investigation was ongoing and police were preparing a report for the coroner.

The Crime and Corruption Commission declined to comment.

Originally published as Police investigation into death of Mitchell Francis Callaghan, Mackay