Questions as to why a high risk Amber Alert wasn't issued before William's death at a remote Queensland campsite have arisen as police investigate the murder-suicide. Photo / GoFundMe
Questions as to why a high risk Amber Alert wasn't issued before William's death at a remote Queensland campsite have arisen as police investigate the murder-suicide. Photo / GoFundMe
The father who allegedly killed his baby in a murder-suicide was reportedly caught driving over the alcohol limit on the night the six-month-old went missing — but was let off by police.
He was stopped for speeding and returned a low to mid-range blood alcohol level, but was given an infringement notice instead of being arrested after telling the officer a "sob story", a police source told Nine News.
The Queensland police officer — who is said to be "distraught" after learning of the deaths — reportedly searched the back of the car with a torch, but did not see a child.
The stop took place not far from where the two bodies were found in a red Holden Commodore, parked at a remote Queensland campsite on Wednesday morning.
William's mother reported her son missing to police on Monday after his father, 46, failed to return her son as-per a court-ordered shared custody arrangement.
But police did not issue an Amber Alert, or child abduction emergency broadcast to facilitate a search and recovery of a high risk missing child.
Queensland Police said there was not enough evidence for an alert to be issued.
The boy lived with his mother in the bayside Brisbane suburb of Redcliffe, 60km from where his body was found in the Beerburrum State Forest, 80km north of Brisbane.
Detective Inspector Dave Drinnen said the lack of an Amber Alert "will be looked into", and that the child's mother and father separated after "domestic violence incidents".
Katie Buckingham, a relative of young William's devastated mother, has started a GoFundMe campaign to help her pay for his funeral. Photo / GoFundMe
Police said the father was a known domestic violence offender and that a "high risk" missing person investigation was launched when it became clear he had disappeared with the baby.
"It's extremely distressing, a very tragic incident," said Det Insp Drinnen. "The mother was extremely distraught, as you can well imagine."
News.com.au put questions to Queensland Police, who would not comment, but they did say they were likely to provide more information today.
News of the father being stopped by police came amid an outpouring of grief and anger as family members said the system had let down William and his mother.
"This should never have happened!" wrote relative Katie Buckingham on a GoFundMe page she set up for the bereaved mother. "The courts have let her down and not kept the baby's father away from her son! Now this beautiful and innocent baby boy has been taken from her by the man who did nothing but make her life hell."
She called the deaths a "horrific tragedy" and "the saddest day for everyone involved", adding: "I wish I could take it all away, the pain … everything. But I can't."
Janyce Lynch posted on the group that she was "overwhelmed by sadness" and could not begin to imagine how lost and devastated the boy's mother must be. "It's just absolutely heartbreaking," she said. "I have a 18 month boy on my own and even though I have a protection order put in place, it does not prevent the same tragedy from happening.
"Let us all pray and do what we can to change the laws so there will be really protection and no more of these senseless acts."
Oli Caz added: "Rip William, you and your Mum were let down by Australia's pathetic legal system."
Tanea Saul called it "a cruel, manipulative, indefensible and selfish act" while others said the family court had let the mother and baby down — with a man named Ian blaming the lack of mediation before orders are issued.
The news comes amid questions over whether the system let the child down, after his mother reported him missing but police failed to issue an Amber Alert.
"My heart goes out to mum and family," wrote Rachael Kovacs. "No mother should have to go through this especially fighting a battle and the system lets you down!!"
Council workers made the grisly discovery as they walked down a track off Roys Road camping ground, in bushland at Coochin Creek in the Sunshine Coast hinterland.
"It was absolutely horrific," said Det Insp Drinnen. "A six-month-old child deceased with the father and they'd obviously been there for some time … it's a very tragic event and places a lot of pressure on our first responders.
"This is part of the job … we have to go to and we'll be ensuring our own people get the support as well."
Det Insp Drinnen said that despite police not sending out an Amber Alert for William, his case was still treated as a high risk missing child investigation.
"The mere fact we had a custody incident where a child is missing with the father … where there is a threat or harm to that child, that is when we raise the alert," he said.
The investigation will now be handled by the Sunshine Coast Child Protection Unit.
In a statement released on Wednesday afternoon, Queensland Police said the two bodies are yet to be formally identified.
"At this stage, detectives are treating the death of the child as suspicious and the man's death as non-suspicious," police said.
Police were unable to confirm how the two died and a post-mortem will be undertaken.
If you're in danger now:
• Phone the police on 111 or ask neighbours of friends to ring for you. • Run outside and head for where there are other people. • Scream for help so that your neighbours can hear you. • Take the children with you. • Don't stop to get anything else. • If you are being abused, remember it's not your fault. Violence is never okay
• Women's Refuge: Free national crisis line operates 24/7 - 0800 refuge or 0800 733 843 www.womensrefuge.org.nz • Shine, free national helpline 9am- 11pm every day - 0508 744 633 www.2shine.org.nz • It's Not Ok: Information line 0800 456 450 www.areyouok.org.nz • Shakti: Providing specialist cultural services for African, Asian and middle eastern women and their children. Crisis line 24/7 0800 742 584 • Ministry of Justice: www.justice.govt.nz/family-justice/domestic-violence • National Network of Stopping Violence: www.nnsvs.org.nz • White Ribbon: Aiming to eliminate men's violence towards women, focusing this year on sexual violence and the issue of consent. www.whiteribbon.org.nz
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