Husband charged with murder of wife, baby after walking into police station 630km away
By John Crouch
A mother and baby were found dead at a home in central Queensland hours before the woman’s husband was charged with two counts of murder.
The man was taken into custody after walking into a Brisbane police station on Thursday, telling police the 30-year-old woman and her 11-week-old daughter were dead at the property hundreds of kilometres away in Rockhampton.
Officers discovered the bodies in a “quite confronting” scene at the property.
Police suspect Tayla and baby Murphy Margaret Cox died on Tuesday and the man, Matthew Cox, 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.
Matthew Cox has been charged with two counts of murder after his 30-year-old wife Tayla and 11-week-old baby girl Murphy Margaret.Credit: Nine News
“We aren’t looking for any other people,” Shadlow said.
There was no history of domestic violence in the relationship and the Coxes were not known to police.
When asked whether it was a mental health-related incident, Shadlow said it “will obviously form part of our investigations”.
Shadlow ruled out reports a gunshot had been heard at the address but would not comment on how the mother and baby died.
“A deceased infant child is always confronting for first responders,” he said.
A crime scene was declared at the Park Avenue home.Credit: Nine News
The mother’s family had been notified, “and as you’d expect, they’re devastated”, Shadlow said.
Police will remain at the scene for days.
The man’s vehicle was seized at the Rockhampton airport for forensic examination.
“We have scientific and forensic officers currently at the scene ... they will be there for some time examining the scene and the investigations will be ongoing,” Shadlow said.
The accused was due to face Brisbane Magistrates Court on Friday.
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– AAP