Why did this Rockhampton dad allegedly kill his wife and baby, then fly to Brisbane to confess?
A man will appear in Brisbane Magistrate’s Court Friday after aĀ mother and baby were found dead at a home in central Queensland hours before the alleged killer was charged with two counts of murder.
Matthew Cox, 31 was taken into custody after walking into a Brisbane police station on Thursday, telling police his 30-year-old wife Tayla and their and her 11-week-old daughter Murphy were dead at the property hundreds of kilometres away in Rockhampton.
Officers discovered the bodies in a āquite confrontingā scene at the property.
Police suspect the woman and child died on Tuesday and the man, who was known to them, flew from Rockhampton to Brisbane that evening, Detective Superintendent Darrin Shadlow said.
The 31-year-old Rockhampton man was charged with two counts of murder on Thursday afternoon.
āWe arenāt looking for any other people,ā Det Sup Shadlow said.
You might like
There was no history of domestic violence in the relationship and the man and woman were not known to police.
When asked whether it was a mental health-related incident, Supt Shadlow said it āwill obviously form part of our investigationsā.
Det Supt Shadlow ruled out reports a gunshot had been heard at the address but would not comment on how the mother and baby died other than to say police came across āquite a confronting sceneā.
āA deceased infant child is always confronting for first responders,ā he said.
Stay informed, daily
The motherās family had been notified, āand as youād expect, theyāre devastatedā, Det Supt Shadlow said.
Police will remain at the scene for days.
The manās vehicle was seized at the Rockhampton airport for forensic examination.
āWe have scientific and forensic officers currently at the scene ā¦ they will be there for some time examining the scene and the investigations will be ongoing,ā Det Supt Shadlow said.
The accused is due to face Brisbane Magistrates Court on Friday.
In a statement, MrĀ Coxās parents, Denis Cox and Linda Lind, said they hadĀ ānot only lost a beautiful daughter-in-law Tayla but also our much loved granddaughter Murphyā.
āAt this stage we have very few other details and are in an absolute state of shock,ā the statement reads.
āWe ask that the media respect our privacy while we grieve and try and process what has occurred.ā
Police have asked anyone with information to contact them.
Lifeline 13 11 14
beyondblue 1300 22 4636
Want to see more stories from InDaily Qld in your Google search results?
- Click here to set InDaily Qld as a preferred source.
- Tick the box next to "InDaily Qld". That's it.
