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'Inseparable' brothers farewelled as grandmother stands accused of murder

The Advertiser

2 hours ago

The Advertiser

'Inseparable' brothers farewelled as grandmother stands accused of murder

The smallest coffins are the heaviest to hold up. The weight of two, side by side, is unbearable. A 66-year-old woman remains behind bars, charged with the alleged murders of her two grandsons, Max and Sam Johnson, in the rural town of Coonabarabran. The boys' parents, Troy and Samantha, are in a prison of their own, unable to escape their grief as they said farewell to their six and seven-year-old "inseparable" sons at a heartbreaking service in Maitland on Thursday afternoon. Sam, 6, and Max, 7, were remembered as "full of life, curiosity," and the "optimism and infectious joy" that only children have. "We're still in shock," Mr Johnson told the Newcastle Herald. Sam was three months old when he developed neuroblastoma, a fast-growing and aggressive cancer that led to a nine-month stay in the hospital with his mother at his side. A tough little tacker, Sam survived, quickly becoming a favourite and something of a celebrity during treatment. "He was a superstar at the hospital, all the nurses loved him," their mother said. He and his brother had an unbreakable bond; they were best mates, and they had their whole lives ahead of them. "Max's first words were, 'My brother, my brother', not 'Mum', not 'Dad'," Mr Johnson said. "We want everyone to know how close they were, how much they loved each other and how much everyone loved them. "They'll be sadly missed by everyone." Police were called to a home on Emu Lane, just outside of Coonabarabran, about 2pm on Monday, May 5, following reports about a concern for welfare. Officers forced their way into the home. Inside, police found 66-year-old maternal grandmother Kathleen Heggs, who had reportedly attempted to self-harm, and the bodies of her two grandsons, Max and Sam. Heggs was taken to a hospital under police guard after officers found the bodies of the boys in two separate bedrooms in the home. The grandmother remained in the hospital for several days until her release, when she was taken to Orange Police Station and charged with two counts of murder. She appeared at Parramatta court on May 10 and made no application for bail. Heggs will face court again in Dubbo on July 10. The tragedy sent a ripple of sadness and confusion through the Coonabarabran community, where the boys had moved about 11 months earlier from the Central Coast. Both had been in state care for some time before Heggs became their sole carer. At the service on Thursday, Coonabarabran Public School principal Lucy Evans remembered Sam as "happy, vibrant and full of life". Staff described him as being inquisitive, determined and curious. He was fascinated with the school chickens; he loved bright lights, Lego and turning things on and off. Almost 10 other teachers, who had made the trip to Maitland for the service, wiped tears from their eyes as a photo montage of the boys played to the sound of Simon and Garfunkel's 'The Sound of Silence'. Max loved learning, staff described him as articulate, inquisitive and bright. His favourite thing "in the whole wide world" was dinosaurs. Max had lots of friends, he was popular, and he "always looked out for others". Every day, the pair came to school with their wheelie bags in tow, and they were just happy to be there, Ms Evans said. "They really were inseparable," she said. "In closing, while so much of this feels so wrong, I can say one thing that does feel right; for every second of every day that Max and Sam spent at our school, they were valued, they were cared for and oh were they loved, and for that I am so proud. "Rest in peace, boys, we will never forget you." After Sam battled his cancer, Max became his protector. The duo loved karate, so much so that they took up a second class to go twice a week, had just completed their yellow belts and were about to be presented with them. On Thursday, two yellow belts sat atop their coffins. Warrumbungle Shire Council councillor Kodi Brady recited a poem, titled 'In loving memory of two Coonabarabran stars'. "Rest now, boys, the wild run done, beneath the moon, beyond the sun, forever young, forever near, Coonabarabran holds you dear," he said. The smallest coffins are the heaviest to hold up. The weight of two, side by side, is unbearable. A 66-year-old woman remains behind bars, charged with the alleged murders of her two grandsons, Max and Sam Johnson, in the rural town of Coonabarabran. The boys' parents, Troy and Samantha, are in a prison of their own, unable to escape their grief as they said farewell to their six and seven-year-old "inseparable" sons at a heartbreaking service in Maitland on Thursday afternoon. Sam, 6, and Max, 7, were remembered as "full of life, curiosity," and the "optimism and infectious joy" that only children have. "We're still in shock," Mr Johnson told the Newcastle Herald. Sam was three months old when he developed neuroblastoma, a fast-growing and aggressive cancer that led to a nine-month stay in the hospital with his mother at his side. A tough little tacker, Sam survived, quickly becoming a favourite and something of a celebrity during treatment. "He was a superstar at the hospital, all the nurses loved him," their mother said. He and his brother had an unbreakable bond; they were best mates, and they had their whole lives ahead of them. "Max's first words were, 'My brother, my brother', not 'Mum', not 'Dad'," Mr Johnson said. "We want everyone to know how close they were, how much they loved each other and how much everyone loved them. "They'll be sadly missed by everyone." Police were called to a home on Emu Lane, just outside of Coonabarabran, about 2pm on Monday, May 5, following reports about a concern for welfare. Officers forced their way into the home. Inside, police found 66-year-old maternal grandmother Kathleen Heggs, who had reportedly attempted to self-harm, and the bodies of her two grandsons, Max and Sam. Heggs was taken to a hospital under police guard after officers found the bodies of the boys in two separate bedrooms in the home. The grandmother remained in the hospital for several days until her release, when she was taken to Orange Police Station and charged with two counts of murder. She appeared at Parramatta court on May 10 and made no application for bail. Heggs will face court again in Dubbo on July 10. The tragedy sent a ripple of sadness and confusion through the Coonabarabran community, where the boys had moved about 11 months earlier from the Central Coast. Both had been in state care for some time before Heggs became their sole carer. At the service on Thursday, Coonabarabran Public School principal Lucy Evans remembered Sam as "happy, vibrant and full of life". Staff described him as being inquisitive, determined and curious. He was fascinated with the school chickens; he loved bright lights, Lego and turning things on and off. Almost 10 other teachers, who had made the trip to Maitland for the service, wiped tears from their eyes as a photo montage of the boys played to the sound of Simon and Garfunkel's 'The Sound of Silence'. Max loved learning, staff described him as articulate, inquisitive and bright. His favourite thing "in the whole wide world" was dinosaurs. Max had lots of friends, he was popular, and he "always looked out for others". Every day, the pair came to school with their wheelie bags in tow, and they were just happy to be there, Ms Evans said. "They really were inseparable," she said. "In closing, while so much of this feels so wrong, I can say one thing that does feel right; for every second of every day that Max and Sam spent at our school, they were valued, they were cared for and oh were they loved, and for that I am so proud. "Rest in peace, boys, we will never forget you." After Sam battled his cancer, Max became his protector. The duo loved karate, so much so that they took up a second class to go twice a week, had just completed their yellow belts and were about to be presented with them. On Thursday, two yellow belts sat atop their coffins. Warrumbungle Shire Council councillor Kodi Brady recited a poem, titled 'In loving memory of two Coonabarabran stars'. "Rest now, boys, the wild run done, beneath the moon, beyond the sun, forever young, forever near, Coonabarabran holds you dear," he said. The smallest coffins are the heaviest to hold up. The weight of two, side by side, is unbearable. A 66-year-old woman remains behind bars, charged with the alleged murders of her two grandsons, Max and Sam Johnson, in the rural town of Coonabarabran. The boys' parents, Troy and Samantha, are in a prison of their own, unable to escape their grief as they said farewell to their six and seven-year-old "inseparable" sons at a heartbreaking service in Maitland on Thursday afternoon. Sam, 6, and Max, 7, were remembered as "full of life, curiosity," and the "optimism and infectious joy" that only children have. "We're still in shock," Mr Johnson told the Newcastle Herald. Sam was three months old when he developed neuroblastoma, a fast-growing and aggressive cancer that led to a nine-month stay in the hospital with his mother at his side. A tough little tacker, Sam survived, quickly becoming a favourite and something of a celebrity during treatment. "He was a superstar at the hospital, all the nurses loved him," their mother said. He and his brother had an unbreakable bond; they were best mates, and they had their whole lives ahead of them. "Max's first words were, 'My brother, my brother', not 'Mum', not 'Dad'," Mr Johnson said. "We want everyone to know how close they were, how much they loved each other and how much everyone loved them. "They'll be sadly missed by everyone." Police were called to a home on Emu Lane, just outside of Coonabarabran, about 2pm on Monday, May 5, following reports about a concern for welfare. Officers forced their way into the home. Inside, police found 66-year-old maternal grandmother Kathleen Heggs, who had reportedly attempted to self-harm, and the bodies of her two grandsons, Max and Sam. Heggs was taken to a hospital under police guard after officers found the bodies of the boys in two separate bedrooms in the home. The grandmother remained in the hospital for several days until her release, when she was taken to Orange Police Station and charged with two counts of murder. She appeared at Parramatta court on May 10 and made no application for bail. Heggs will face court again in Dubbo on July 10. The tragedy sent a ripple of sadness and confusion through the Coonabarabran community, where the boys had moved about 11 months earlier from the Central Coast. Both had been in state care for some time before Heggs became their sole carer. At the service on Thursday, Coonabarabran Public School principal Lucy Evans remembered Sam as "happy, vibrant and full of life". Staff described him as being inquisitive, determined and curious. He was fascinated with the school chickens; he loved bright lights, Lego and turning things on and off. Almost 10 other teachers, who had made the trip to Maitland for the service, wiped tears from their eyes as a photo montage of the boys played to the sound of Simon and Garfunkel's 'The Sound of Silence'. Max loved learning, staff described him as articulate, inquisitive and bright. His favourite thing "in the whole wide world" was dinosaurs. Max had lots of friends, he was popular, and he "always looked out for others". Every day, the pair came to school with their wheelie bags in tow, and they were just happy to be there, Ms Evans said. "They really were inseparable," she said. "In closing, while so much of this feels so wrong, I can say one thing that does feel right; for every second of every day that Max and Sam spent at our school, they were valued, they were cared for and oh were they loved, and for that I am so proud. "Rest in peace, boys, we will never forget you." After Sam battled his cancer, Max became his protector. The duo loved karate, so much so that they took up a second class to go twice a week, had just completed their yellow belts and were about to be presented with them. On Thursday, two yellow belts sat atop their coffins. Warrumbungle Shire Council councillor Kodi Brady recited a poem, titled 'In loving memory of two Coonabarabran stars'. "Rest now, boys, the wild run done, beneath the moon, beyond the sun, forever young, forever near, Coonabarabran holds you dear," he said. The smallest coffins are the heaviest to hold up. The weight of two, side by side, is unbearable. A 66-year-old woman remains behind bars, charged with the alleged murders of her two grandsons, Max and Sam Johnson, in the rural town of Coonabarabran. The boys' parents, Troy and Samantha, are in a prison of their own, unable to escape their grief as they said farewell to their six and seven-year-old "inseparable" sons at a heartbreaking service in Maitland on Thursday afternoon. Sam, 6, and Max, 7, were remembered as "full of life, curiosity," and the "optimism and infectious joy" that only children have. "We're still in shock," Mr Johnson told the Newcastle Herald. Sam was three months old when he developed neuroblastoma, a fast-growing and aggressive cancer that led to a nine-month stay in the hospital with his mother at his side. A tough little tacker, Sam survived, quickly becoming a favourite and something of a celebrity during treatment. "He was a superstar at the hospital, all the nurses loved him," their mother said. He and his brother had an unbreakable bond; they were best mates, and they had their whole lives ahead of them. "Max's first words were, 'My brother, my brother', not 'Mum', not 'Dad'," Mr Johnson said. "We want everyone to know how close they were, how much they loved each other and how much everyone loved them. "They'll be sadly missed by everyone." Police were called to a home on Emu Lane, just outside of Coonabarabran, about 2pm on Monday, May 5, following reports about a concern for welfare. Officers forced their way into the home. Inside, police found 66-year-old maternal grandmother Kathleen Heggs, who had reportedly attempted to self-harm, and the bodies of her two grandsons, Max and Sam. Heggs was taken to a hospital under police guard after officers found the bodies of the boys in two separate bedrooms in the home. The grandmother remained in the hospital for several days until her release, when she was taken to Orange Police Station and charged with two counts of murder. She appeared at Parramatta court on May 10 and made no application for bail. Heggs will face court again in Dubbo on July 10. The tragedy sent a ripple of sadness and confusion through the Coonabarabran community, where the boys had moved about 11 months earlier from the Central Coast. Both had been in state care for some time before Heggs became their sole carer. At the service on Thursday, Coonabarabran Public School principal Lucy Evans remembered Sam as "happy, vibrant and full of life". Staff described him as being inquisitive, determined and curious. He was fascinated with the school chickens; he loved bright lights, Lego and turning things on and off. Almost 10 other teachers, who had made the trip to Maitland for the service, wiped tears from their eyes as a photo montage of the boys played to the sound of Simon and Garfunkel's 'The Sound of Silence'. Max loved learning, staff described him as articulate, inquisitive and bright. His favourite thing "in the whole wide world" was dinosaurs. Max had lots of friends, he was popular, and he "always looked out for others". Every day, the pair came to school with their wheelie bags in tow, and they were just happy to be there, Ms Evans said. "They really were inseparable," she said. "In closing, while so much of this feels so wrong, I can say one thing that does feel right; for every second of every day that Max and Sam spent at our school, they were valued, they were cared for and oh were they loved, and for that I am so proud. "Rest in peace, boys, we will never forget you." After Sam battled his cancer, Max became his protector. The duo loved karate, so much so that they took up a second class to go twice a week, had just completed their yellow belts and were about to be presented with them. On Thursday, two yellow belts sat atop their coffins. Warrumbungle Shire Council councillor Kodi Brady recited a poem, titled 'In loving memory of two Coonabarabran stars'. "Rest now, boys, the wild run done, beneath the moon, beyond the sun, forever young, forever near, Coonabarabran holds you dear," he said.