The 66-year-old woman has been charged with murder following the deaths of the boys, aged six and seven, in Coonabarabran in regional NSW.
The 66-year-old woman has been charged with murder following the deaths of the boys, aged six and seven, in Coonabarabran in regional NSW.
By Ben Cubby and Eryk Bagshaw
May 10, 2025 — 8.08am
A grandmother has been charged with murdering two of her grandsons, aged six and seven, who were found dead in a home at Coonabarabran, in regional NSW, on Monday.
Police were called to the semi-rural property just after 2pm and discovered the boys’ bodies in separate bedrooms.
Their maternal grandmother, 66, was also in the house and had allegedly committed an act of self-harm.
She was released from hospital into police custody on Friday and was charged with two counts of murder.
She did not apply for bail while appearing at Parramatta Bail Court on Saturday, and is due to appear in Dubbo Local Court on May 21.
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The boys had been placed in the care of their grandmother by the Department of Communities and Justice three years ago, and the family moved to Coonabarabran early last year.
The six-year-old was living with cancer and had additional needs.
The pair went to primary school in Coonabarabran and their deaths have shattered the community.
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Hundreds of people attended a candlelit vigil on Friday night, and a tree was planted for each boy in Neilson Park beside the Castlereagh River.
Warrumbungle Shire councillor Kodi Brady said he hoped the vigil would help the community cope with the tragedy.
“It’s a really important part, to take the community on the stepping stone of healing from the shock of the incident to another step forward in the grief and loss process,” he said.
“We can stand together and all the community can feel they’re not alone.
“We’re a small rural town, there is such a ripple effect … it has impacted the whole community.”
With AAP
If you or anyone you know needs help, call Lifeline on 13 11 14 (and see lifeline.org.au), 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732), the National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service on 1800 211 028 or Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800.
Eryk Bagshaw is an investigative reporter for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age.
He was previously North Asia correspondent.Connect via Twitter.
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