Australian police have charged a woman with murder after she allegedly killed her child and then consumed part of his flesh before turning herself in. The horrific incident was discovered when officers were notified of the disaster involving the four-year-old boy.
The crime took place at a home in New South Wales, Australia. During investigations, the 32-year-old woman confessed to police that she engaged in 'acts of cannibalism' against her son when she handed herself over to authorities at 4:40 PM on Sunday. These details were gathered by Al Arabiya from various sources.
Police found the child's body, which showed severe injuries to his arm, while searching the woman’s home on Byron Street in Wyong.
Australia’s Nine News reported that the boy might have died several days before his body was found.
Sources informed the Sydney Morning Herald and Daily Telegraph that concerns over potential cannibalistic practices arose from 'conversations' between the police and the mother.
Under Australian laws protecting the identities of child crime victims, the woman’s identity remains undisclosed. She drove to the police station to surrender herself, with her car being impounded alongside other evidence, although authorities have not commented on whether evidence indicated cannibalistic events.
The woman has been charged with murder relating to domestic violence.
Police Superintendent Chad Gillies stated in a press conference that the mother and son had been living together in the residential unit, describing their relationship as 'familial,' noting she was known to law enforcement previously.
Gillies remarked: 'It was an incredibly distressing scene.'
A coroner is scheduled to conduct a post-mortem examination next week to determine the cause of death.
Neighbor Harley Cheslett described the child as a 'little angel' who spent hours playing with his toy car and small Staffordshire Bull Terrier.
Domestic Violence
Cheslett told the Daily Telegraph: 'I can’t believe he’s gone. He was a sweet kid, a little cheeky and mischievous sometimes, just like any boy his age.'
He added: 'I loved that kid. Sometimes he’d be up running around until nine or ten at night; it was like he ran marathons sometimes.' He continued: 'He was full of energy and very much loved.'
Glen Winterbottom, 51, a mechanic who repaired the mother’s car, said he had never noticed signs of trouble between her and her son.
He noted that both had moved into the rental property earlier this year following allegations that the mother had been a victim of domestic violence by her former husband.