A couple has been charged with murder and torture after a baby died in Queensland’s Moreton Bay region. The case has been described as one of the most confronting incidents that I’ve seen in my 30-year career in law enforcement.
Detective Inspector David Jackman said that the injuries to the infant were so severe that they required a murder charge.
The body of the infant was discovered at a home on Mount Samson Road in Yugar at around 6.45am on Thursday. The police have charged a man named Reinhardt Bosch with murder.
Operation Salwood was then established to investigate the incident.
The couple, who are both aged 22 and from Yugar, were taken into custody to assist the police with their inquiries.
They have since been charged with one count of murder and one count of torture. It is believed that the couple, who are devout Christians, only called the emergency services once the baby died.
They are due to appear in the Brisbane Magistrate’s Court on November 4. During an update on Thursday afternoon, Detective Inspector David Jackman confirmed that the couple knew each other and lived at the same address. He also stated that the emergency services had not been called to the house.
According to Jackman, the investigation has revealed that the child suffered multiple injuries that are so severe that they require a murder charge.
He also stated that the incident allegedly happened over the course of a few hours. At this stage, the police have no information indicating that the child had any underlying health issues.
As part of the investigation, the police will be carrying out extensive door-knocking operations in the area. They will also speak with the family members to gather information about the incident.
Detective Inspector David Jackman said that the house is located in a semi-rural area, and the police haven’t found anything from their knocks so far.
The homicide of an infant is very tragic, and it’s also very confronting and tragic for the parents and the first responders who attended the scene.
As a detective for over 30 years, I’ve witnessed some of the most challenging scenes in the field. The investigation is still in its early stages, and the police are working to establish the exact cause of the child’s death.