The bodies of two young boys were found in Coonabarabran on Monday, with police expected to charge their 66-year-old maternal grandmother for the alleged double murder.
The boys, aged six and seven, were found dead by police after officers forced entry to the grandmother’s property during a welfare check.
The grandmother was also found with self-inflicted injuries and arrested at the scene, before being taken to the hospital under police guard. She has since been moved to a mental health facility in Orange, according to police.
The grandmother was the boys’ sole carer after they were removed from their parents.
It’s been reported that the two boys were energetic little kids who loved soccer and karate.
NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Andrew Holland said in a press conference on Tuesday that “there were concerns enough for the young children involved to be placed into the care of their grandmother. That person was deemed suitable by the law to… manage those young people”.
He said that upon discharge from the mental health facility, the grandmother will be returned to police custody and is expected to face “serious charges”.
He also said the officers who attended the scene were “heroic” in the face of “a confronting tragedy that should not have occurred”.
When asked about how the parents and other set of grandparents were faring with news of the boys’ deaths, Holland said “not well”.
“These things shock small country towns – the death of one child is bad enough. The death of two is just incomprehensible.”
“The town needs to band together now and understand that this has happened.”
Holland said the circumstances of the boys’ deaths would be determined by pathologists on Thursday.
NSW premier Chris Minns said the education department was working closely with the boys’ school to provide resources to support other students.
“I can imagine that community is going through hell right now,” Minns said.
“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.”
A memorial for the brothers has been set up near the property they lived at with their grandmother, with toys and flowers left as remembrance. A candlelight vigil is planned for them as well on Friday night in Neilson Park.
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