‘Should never have sent cops’: Wieambilla cop-killers’ daughter Madelyn Train speaks

Cop-killer Nathaniel Train’s estranged wife had warned police about the deadly Wieambilla trio’s distrust and paranoia before the fatal day, the Trains’ daughter says.

The daughter of the Wieambilla cop-killers says police “never should have sent anyone” to the rural property the day that a routine welfare check ended in a deadly ambush.

Madelyn Train revealed to Nine News that she received a missed call from Walgett Police on December 12, two-and-a-half hours before her parents and uncle set the trap that killed constables Matthew Arnold and Rachel McCrow, and neighbour Alan Dare.

“I think they were contacting us to see if Nathaniel was missing and get contextual information but they never should have sent anyone there until they got all the contextual information,” Ms Train said.

Madelyn Train, the daughter of Queensland cop killers Stacey and Gareth Train speaks out for the first time following the horrific events on a Western Downs property in December. Picture: 9 NEWS

By the time the 26-year-old returned the call, it was too late, and her father Nathaniel, mother Stacey, and uncle-turned-step-dad Gareth Train had sealed their fates, and were later killed by police after a lengthy stand-off.

Ms Train said Nathaniel’s estranged wife Vanessa had warned New South Wales police about the trio’s distrust and paranoia.

“She told police officers there was a mistrust of police, that Gary had a mistrust of police,” she said.

“Then the NSW police force apparently did not disclose that to the Queensland police force.”

Ms Train was struggling to process what her family had done, and said she had lost friends and employment.

Constable Rachel McCrow, 26. Picture: Facebook/The Queensland Police Union of Employees

Constable Matthew Arnold, 29. Picture: Facebook

“No one crosses the street because I don’t look scary, but I look exactly like my mum so I ended up cutting all my hair off,” she said.

“Honestly my life has been destroyed and that’s fine but it’s a lot to manage while you’re trying to grieve lots of people.”

Ms Train said she hated what her parents had done, and hoped it would prompt better mental health services to help prevent future tragedies.

“Everyone is traumatised by this,” she said.

Ms Train has returned to the Wieambilla property to collect sentimental items.

Aerial vision of the crime scene at Wieambilla on December 14, 2022, following the deaths of Constable Rachel McCrow, Constable Matthew Arnold, neighbour Alan Dare and killing trio Nathaniel Train, Gareth Train and Stacey Train. Source: 9 News

“Mum always wore a specific perfume on Christmas and she had one for work so I got that,” she said.

“I got the wedding dress she wore when she married Gary and our family photos they had in a box.”

While the Queensland Police Union has proposed turning the property into a memorial or training facility, Ms Train did not agree.

“I don’t think anyone should buy it, I think it should stay as it is, a time capsule of multiple lives that ended very tragically,” she said.

Originally published as ‘Should never have sent cops’: Wieambilla cop-killers’ daughter Madelyn Train speaks