Brisbane woman charged with murder of her toddler son, 50 years ago
An elderly Queensland mother of 11 children has been charged with murdering her autistic toddler son more than 50-years-ago.
Peter John Enrightās parents, Maureen and Michael Enright, didnāt report him missing when he disappeared in 1968 or 1969 aged three or four years old.
But police allege his mother Maureen, now 76, murdered him at their Brisbane home and may have had a hand in burying him in the yard.
āItās been a fascinating case,ā Detective Inspector Damien Hansen told reporters at the crime scene.
āThere were 11 children in the family, he was number 4, a lot of those siblings were unaware (but) theyād heard stories.
āThey were aware Peter existed.ā
Detectives took Ms Enright into custody on Wednesday evening and charged her with murder after interviewing the surviving family.
Bone experts and forensic officers on Thursday started searching for Peterās remains using ground-penetrating radar at the familyās Inala home, where Ms Enright has lived since 1966.
Peter was born June 17, 1965. His father Michael died in 2018.
āWeāre searching for a body. Weāre optimistic at this stage but that will be dependant on a lot of environmental factors ā¦ time and acidity of soils,ā Det Insp Hansen said.
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Homicide detectives started the murder investigation after receiving a tip-off in August about Peterās disappearance and suspected death.
āA person came forward with the information,ā Det Insp Hansen said.
Detectives have urged anyone who lived on Polaris Street in Inala in the 1960s and 70s to contact police if they have information.
āThey were quite well known, some of the neighbours have been here for a long time too,ā Det Insp Hansen said.
Ms Enright is scheduled to appear in Richmond Magistrates Court on Thursday.
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