Doting Mother Kills Eight-Year-Old Daughter in Tragic Murder-Suicide: Minister Vows to Strengthen System to Prevent Similar Tragedies
- Heartbreaking tragedy rocks Brisbane community as Dr Tiffany Wilkes and her eight-year-old daughter are found dead in an Airbnb
- Education Minister John-Paul Langbroek promises to review the case and “strengthen” the system to prevent similar tragedies
- Police prepare report for coroner as community grapples with the shocking loss of a mother and her young daughter
In a devastating turn of events, a loving mother, Dr Tiffany Wilkes, has taken the life of her eight-year-old daughter in a suspected murder-suicide in Brisbane, leaving the community reeling in shock.
As the news of the tragedy spread, Education Minister John-Paul Langbroek vowed to review the case and take necessary steps to “strengthen” the system to prevent similar heartbreaks in the future. “I can reassure Queensland parents that we want to make sure there’s better communication between these departments,” he said.
The bodies of Dr Wilkes and her daughter were discovered at an Airbnb in Kenmore Hills on Monday, sending shockwaves through the community. The police are preparing a report for the coroner and are not looking for anyone else in relation to the incident.
Dr Wilkes, a staff specialist at the Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane, had been struggling with mental health issues and had not attended work for 18 months. Her daughter was not known to the Department of Child Safety.
The Australian Medical Association (AMA) Queensland president Dr Nick Yim urged clinicians who were struggling to reach out for support, saying, “We know doctors and health professionals experience mental health challenges just like everyone else.”
Queensland’s Child Safety Minister Amanda Camm expressed her “sympathy” to the friends and family of Dr Wilkes and her daughter, saying, “I think many across our community were absolutely shocked at this case.”
This tragic incident has sparked concerns about the communication between departments and the need for a more robust system to prevent such tragedies. As the investigation continues, the community is left to grapple with the loss of a mother and her young daughter, and to wonder what could have been done to prevent this senseless tragedy.