Police made an arrest in the case of the deaths of brothers Max Johnson, 7, and Sam, 6. Their bodies were discovered inside their Coonabarabran home in northwest NSW, Australia.
Two officers responded to a message sent to the communities and justice department. They forced their way into the Emu Lane home where they found the boys’ dead bodies in separate rooms.
They established a crime scene and officers from the Orana mid-western police district and detectives from the state’s homicide squad have launched an investigation.
The boys’ grandmother, Kathleen Heggs, 66, has since been arrested and charged with double murder.
Zaarkacha Marlan/ABC Western Plains
According to Sky News Australia, at the time the officers arrived at the home, she attempted to harm herself.
She was refused bail and will appear at Parramatta Bail Court on Saturday.
“What has occurred is terrible and as a state we share in the community of Coonabarabran’s grief at the loss of two young boys who had their entire futures ahead of them,” NSW Premier Chris Minns said of the tragedy.
“I can not begin to imagine the heartbreak their loved ones are currently feeling, including their family, friends, and teachers.
“I thank the local officers who attended the scene for their professionalism and bravery in the face of such a horrible event.”
The boys went to live with their grandmother around 11 months prior to the tragedy.
“These things shock small country towns,” Assistant Commissioner Holland said.
“The death of one child is bad enough – the death of two is just incomprehensible.”
The community will pay tribute to the young brothers by holding a candlelit vigil in their memory at Neilson Park in Coonabarabran.
The NSW police said there is no ongoing threat to the community and believe no other suspect has been involved in the deaths of the two brothers.
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