Eight children stabbed to death in Cairns

Albedo · Dec 19, 2014

Eight children are confirmed dead after a horrifying multiple stabbing at a home in Cairns in far-north Queensland.

The children are aged from 18 months to 15 years. It is understood the children were stabbed and suffocated, Nine News reports.
A 34-year-old woman, now confirmed as the mother of seven of the children, has also been injured in the incident and is in hospital in a stable condition, but with stab wounds to the chest. She is assisting police with their inquiries.
It is understood the woman is not in police custody, but authorities say they are not looking for anyone else in relation to the incident.
[...]
Police were called to the home on Murray Street at 11:20am today. Nine News reports that a 20-year-old man, believed to be the son of the woman in hospital, discovered the bodies and alerted authorities.

There's not much to say, really. This country isn't having a very good week.

Helix · Dec 19, 2014

I can't think of anything to say about this. It's just horrifying.

And I feel for the cops and SES working in Manoora.

Albedo · Dec 19, 2014

Helix said:
I can't think of anything to say about this. It's just horrifying.

And I feel for the cops and SES working in Manoora.

I knew this was your neck of the woods, but I didn't want to say anything because you never know how people may be linked, especially in a smaller city. Still, glad to hear from you.

I vaguely know one of the vascular surgeons in Cairns. They're probably the one patching the survivor up tonight.

Helix · Dec 19, 2014

I'm up in the hills, so am a fair distance from Cairns. I have friends down there, but none are involved in this incident, as far as I know.

It's been a bad time in this part of the world. Specialist police are up here searching Lake Eacham for a man who went missing a few weeks ago. They brought up a remote operated vehicle because the lake is too deep for divers to do anything but check the edges.

regdog · Dec 19, 2014

Devil Ledbetter · Dec 19, 2014

When I read this on AP this morning I thought the authorities were hinting at murder/attempted suicide: "As it stands at the moment, there is no need for the public to be concerned about this other than the fact that it's a tragic, tragic event."

Maybe postpartum psychosis?

Albedo · Dec 19, 2014

Devil Ledbetter said:
When I read this on AP this morning I thought the authorities were hinting at murder/attempted suicide: "As it stands at the moment, there is no need for the public to be concerned about this other than the fact that it's a tragic, tragic event."

Maybe postpartum psychosis?

The media's doing a surprising and quite commendable job of not speculating on the details in the absence of an announcement. Maybe they're learning lessons.

But yeah, it's pretty easy to infer the police think the killer was either the mother or one of the older kids.

cmhbob · Dec 19, 2014

They've charged mom. One of the kids was her niece; the oldest kid (20) found them.

http://www.smh.com.au/national/eigh...e-found-by-their-brother-20141219-12ayrz.html

SMH.

blacbird · Dec 19, 2014

Sounds a lot like the Andrea Yates case, in Texas, a few years ago.

caw

mccardey · Dec 19, 2014

blacbird said:
Sounds a lot like the Andrea Yates case, in Texas, a few years ago.

caw

It's a mental health tragedy. So maybe now we could start spending more money on mental health. Poor blossoms, all of them.

Helix · Dec 19, 2014

This is the latest update from the Queensland Police Service. It lists the ages of the children.

mccardey · Dec 19, 2014

Helix said:
This is the latest update from the Queensland Police Service. It lists the ages of the children.

My god, that's sad.

Roxxsmom · Dec 19, 2014

God, how horrible. It must have been awful for the cops who had to go to the scene. Poor kids.

Ambrosia · Dec 20, 2014

What a horrible thing.

CassandraW · Dec 20, 2014

What a terrible story. The poor kids.

Diana Hignutt · Dec 21, 2014

Tragic. We had a case last month here in Jersey where a mom did something similar, but being the States, she used a gun and a pillow.

Whenever one should be struck with the notion of murder-suicide, one should start with the suicide.

Helix · Dec 21, 2014

There's a move to bulldoze the house and extend the park next door to it, perhaps with a memorial to the little ones.

ETA: Added link, now that it's been confirmed.

Alessandra Kelley · Dec 21, 2014

The mom is 34 and her oldest son is 20? Good grief.

Those poor, poor babies.

Helix · Dec 21, 2014

She's 37, I believe.

Alessandra Kelley · Dec 21, 2014

Ah. The OP cite said 34.

37 is a big difference.

shakeysix · Dec 24, 2014

Babies--Too horrible to fathom--like the King Herod thing in the bible. It always ruined the nativity for me, thinking of those babies murdered--s6

mccardey · Dec 24, 2014

shakeysix said:
Babies--Too horrible to fathom--like the King Herod thing in the bible. It always ruined the nativity for me, thinking of those babies murdered--s6

Actually, although I was taught that at school too, I think it's now been widely discounted. Most recently by Reza Aslan in "Zealot" - but also more widely.

Eight children stabbed to death in Cairns

Albedo

Alex

Helix

socially distancing

Albedo

Alex

Helix

socially distancing

regdog

The Scavengers

Devil Ledbetter

Come on you stranger, you legend,

Albedo

Alex

cmhbob

Did...did I do that?

blacbird

mccardey

Helix

socially distancing

mccardey

Roxxsmom

Beastly Fido

Ambrosia

Grand Duchess

CassandraW

Diana Hignutt

Very Tired

Helix

socially distancing

Alessandra Kelley

Sophipygian

Helix

socially distancing

Alessandra Kelley

Sophipygian

shakeysix

blue eyed floozy

mccardey