Bombshell new details revealed after two young boys found dead in their grandmother's house - rocking a regional Aussie community to its core
Max and Sam Johnson, aged six and seven, were discovered in their Coonabarabran home, in northwest NSW, on May 5. Their grandmother Kathleen Heggs, 66, was subsequently charged with their murder.
Police have now revealed a post-mortem examination carried out on the two boys' bodies found traces of a prescription medication in their systems, according to the Daily Telegraph.
Police will allege Ms Heggs gave her young grandsons the medications before suffocating them with a pillow.
The brothers were asleep in separate bedrooms of Ms Heggs' rural property when the alleged murders took place.
Max and Sam's biological parents Troy and Samantha Johnson are making final plans for their sons' funeral this week, which is to be held in Port Stephens.
Ms Heggs was the sole carer for the two boys and they had moved from near Port Stephens to Coonabarabran about a year ago.
Mr and Mrs Johnson had not seen the boys for five years prior to their deaths.
The boys' father revealed he and his wife decided to let Ms Heggs take care of their sons as they had been struggling with mental health issues.
'This is not how we were meant to get them back,' Mr Johnson said.
'We are completely broken... but those boys deserve a good send off, and that's what we are going to give them.'
Mr Johnson said he was grateful to Coonabarabran locals for sharing their happy memories of his sons.
The boys will be buried in their karate uniforms, along with the yellow belts they were set to receive the week they were allegedly killed.
Last month, police raced to the Coonabarabran property after Ms Heggs allegedly sent a text message to the boys' school to say her the two boys were dead and she intended to take her own life.
After arriving at the farm, police forced their way into the home and found the boys' bodies in different rooms and the woman suffering self-inflicted injuries.
Ms Heggs was treated in a mental health facility for several days following the boys' death before being charged with two counts of murder.
Tragically, the devastated grandfather of the boys told Daily Mail Australia he only discovered that his grandsons were dead when he heard it on the news.
'I had to find out off the news about what happened to them,' he said.
He also said he was upset pictures of the boys had been circulated through the media.
'The photos should never have been released - because they were minors - that was wrong and it has been very upsetting.'
Ms Heggs has not entered pleas and she will front court on July 10.
NSW Police have been contacted for comment.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
11 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Fresh blow for Dan Andrews statue as the tribute is called into question over claims of a 'possible cover-up'
A contentious bronze statue immortalising former Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews will be debated in state parliament amid claims 'unresolved allegations' remain. Plans to make Andrews the fifth premier to be given a permanent statue have been contested by 12,644 Australians in a petition tabled in the Victorian parliament. 'We respectfully urge the government to cancel this proposal as it is inappropriate to erect statues of living politicians,' the petition said. 'Public monuments should be reserved for individuals whose legacies have been tested over time and are broadly regarded as unifying. 'There remains unresolved allegations regarding Daniel Andrews' management and handling of human rights during the state's pandemic response, lockdowns, and use of enforcement powers. 'These issues should be fully resolved before any public honour is considered.' Liberal MP Moira Deeming presented the petition, which noted Andrews' highly-debated involvement in a car crash with a teenage cyclist in 2013. 'Questions persist regarding Daniel Andrews' actions, including delays in reporting the incident and concerns about a possible political cover–up, raising serious doubts about accountability in public office,' the petition continued. 'Spending taxpayer money on a political monument, particularly for a figure whose legacy remains contested, is inappropriate during a time of economic hardship and community division. 'Doing so risks deepening distrust and undermining public confidence in government priorities. 'The petitioners therefore request that the Legislative Council call on the government to cancel any plans to commission or install a statue of former Premier the Hon. Daniel Andrews.' Andrews is set to be the fifth Victorian premier to receive recognition with a statue, alongside John Cain Jr, Rupert Hamer, Henry Bolte and Albert Dunstan who all stand on Treasury Place in the city's CBD. However, details of the cost of his statue and its planned location remain under wraps. When pressed, Andrews said those decisions were up to his successor. Victorian Premier Jacina Allan told reporters this week that the process of installing the Dan Andrews statue is underway. 'Former Liberal premier Jeff Kennett introduced a policy to install statues of former Victorian premiers who serve 3,000 days or more in office, in recognition of their long service to Victoria,' she said. 'The existing statues are located outside 1 Treasury Place and include former premiers Rupert Hamer, Henry Bolte, Albert Dunstan and John Cain Jr. Parliamentary standing orders permit the debate of petitions which receive more than 10,000 signatures, with a minister to provide a response within 30 days. Andrews was premier for almost nine years before he resigned in late 2023. He has since taken on a new role at Orygen, a mental health organisation. His handling of the Covid pandemic and use of enforcement powers were called into question after Melbourne remained in lockdown for 245 days, the longest in Australia and large parts of the world. A bungled hotel quarantine scheme by the Andrews Government has been blamed for the deaths of 768 people. The families of those victims publicly condemned Andrews last year when he was awarded the nation's highest honour – the Companion of the Order of Australia.
Daily Mail
41 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Idaho victim Ethan Chapin's mom's gut-wrenching message to her son after skipping Bryan Kohberger sentencing
The family of Idaho murders victim Ethan Chapin have spoken out for the first time since Bryan Kohberger was jailed for life for slaughtering their son and his three friends inside a college home. Chapin's parents Jim and Stacy Chapin and triplet siblings Maizie and Hunter chose not to attend Kohberger's sentencing at Ada County Courthouse in Boise last week or share a victim impact statement to be read on their behalf. Instead, they planned to spend the day together as a family honoring the 20-year-old freshman at their home in Priest Lake, Idaho. Now, one week on, the Chapin family has released a separate statement on Instagram voicing their support for the outcome of the case and paying tribute to their son who 'touched so many lives.' 'We've given a lot of thought to what we should say since 7/23 and have edited this a million times,' they said, alongside a series of photos of the family together. 'The entire situation has been a tough pill to swallow but at the end of the day, we believe the outcome is the right one.' Earlier this month, the Chapins voiced their support for a plea deal which saw Kohberger plead guilty to the murders of Chapin, his girlfriend Xana Kernodle, both 20, and 21-year-old best friends Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves. In the early hours of November 13, 2022, Kohberger broke into the off-campus student home at 1122 King Road in Moscow and stabbed the four victims to death. The 30-year-old criminology PhD student was arrested around six weeks later on December 30, 2022, at his parents' home in Albrightsville, Pennsylvania, where he had gone for the holidays. After spending more than two years fighting the charges, Kohberger finally confessed to his crimes during a change of plea hearing on July 2. That was the only court hearing the Chapin family attended in the killer's case, as a show of support for the plea deal. On July 23, Judge Steven Hippler handed Kohberger four life sentences with no possibility of parole for each count of first-degree murder and an additional 10 years for burglary. Under the terms of the deal - which spared him from the death penalty - Kohberger has waived his right to ever appeal. In the Chapin family's statement, they did not name or mention the killer but took the moment to thank their son for the 'many ways you brought happiness and light to any situation'. 'Thank you, Ethan. You were only with us for 20 years, but you touched the lives of so many people,' they said. 'From the time you were a baby to when we dropped you off at college, you were an absolute joy and the glue that held our family together. 'We remember your smile, your laugh, how you kept us in check, and the many ways you brought happiness and light to any situation. There will never be another you. 'There would never have been enough time with you. We love you, miss you, and promise to continue honoring your legacy.' The Chapin family also thanked 'the true heroes in our lives' including the multiple law enforcement agencies and prosecutors who worked on the case, the University of Idaho staff who supported them and the media for sharing their story. The family also thanked everyone who has supported them including the students' friends who 'all have suffered severe loss and trauma.' 'Our incredible extended family, friends, and the communities that continue to lift us up every day. They're our backbone, and we recognize how fortunate and privileged we are to have this ongoing support,' the statement read. 'All of the kids!! Close friends of the triplets, Greek family, and others who were part of this story from the very beginning. 'Although each of their experiences is different, all have suffered severe loss and trauma. We continue to be in awe of their strength, and will continue to support them in any way we can.' Chapin had been in his freshman year at the University of Idaho, where he majored in sports management and was part of the Sigma Chi fraternity. The athletic, outgoing student was dating Kernodle and was staying at her student home on the night of the murders. Stacy told the Daily Mail earlier this month that 'he was the clown of the family and he lifted any room that we were all in'. 'I would say he was the top of the triplet pyramid. All things went through Ethan. He kept us all in check,' she said. She also revealed that the family had made a decision to 'forge ahead' with life in the months after their son's murder. 'My husband Jim and I just made a decision one morning. We were like, OK, we're not getting anywhere. This is not a true measure of success for us and our kids and our family,' she said. 'And so we just decided from that day forward, we'd get up, shower, and forge ahead.' The families of the three other victims delivered emotional victim impact statements during last week's sentencing, where they confronted the man who slaughtered their loved ones while they slept. Goncalves' older sister Alivea Goncalves tore into Kohberger as a 'delusional, pathetic, hypochondriadic loser' and demanded: 'Sit up straight when I talk to you.' 'I won't stand her and give you what you want, I won't give you tears… instead I will call you what you are: sociopath, psychopath, murderer,' as Kohberger looked on intently. She concluded with the fiery comment: 'If you hadn't attacked them in their sleep in the middle of the night like a pedophile, Kaylee would have kicked your f***ing ass.' Surviving roommate Dylan Mortensen - who came face-to-face with Kohberger moments after he murdered her friends - sobbed uncontrollably as she told him he was a 'hollow vessel' and 'less than human.' While the families and friends voiced their heartbreak, grief and fury at his crimes, Kohberger stared blankly without showing a flicker of emotion or remorse. When it was his chance to speak, he uttered the three words, 'I respectfully decline' - refusing the chance to reveal his motive and leaving the victims' families in the dark about the murders. Despite his guilty plea, many unanswered questions remain, including Kohberger's motive, who his intended target was and why he chose his victims. However, new information is starting to be made public since Moscow Police released a trove of 314 records from the investigation that ultimately led to Kohberger's arrest. Among the revelations are reports from the victims' friends and surviving roommates that there had been a string of disturbing incidents at 1122 King Road in the lead-up to the murders. Goncalves had told friends she had seen a man watching her in the trees around the home and the roommates had come home to find the front door open one day. It is not clear if these incidents are related to Kohberger but cell phone evidence does indicate he was surveilling the home months before the murders.
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Soccer club WITHDRAWS multiple teams for remainder of the season after frequent on-field brawls - 'loss of confidence from the community'
An amateur soccer club has withdrawn multiple teams for the rest of the season following a number of alleged recent game-day incidents. Banksia Tigers, based in Sydney 's south, confirmed the development on Thursday as they look to address the 'loss of confidence in our club from the broader community.' The club's Premier League men's squad, All Age outfit and under-15s boys won't play again in 2025, as they all face disciplinary action from Football St George, the local association, after recent instances of alleged violence during matches. Additionally, the Tigers have voluntarily withdrawn all other male teams competing from under-18s to over-35s. It follows reports of a fight between two sets of fans on June 26 when Banksia took on Scots Lions FC in a Premier League match at Gardiner Park. Speaking on 2GB Sydney, radio host Ben Fordham acknowledged the significant action taken by the Tigers. 'They have decided to pull the pin after one too many brawls,' he told listeners on Friday. 'It follows a string of violent incidents, the latest which saw a spectator rush onto the field (during a game). Banksia Tigers, based in Sydney's south, confirmed the development on Thursday (pictured) as they look to amend the 'loss of confidence in our club from the broader community' 'A man was injured, the game was abandoned and police were called. 'They (Banksia) have taken significant action as they view it as the first step in rebuilding trust (as a soccer club).' Earlier this week, fed-up locals told Nine News action must be taken against the Tigers. 'Police are a fairly regular occurrence, (from memory) it is the fourth time they've turned up this year alone,' resident Garnet Brown said. 'Parking issues, brawls, abuse to residents, it's far from ideal. 'We've had families move out of the area because they are fearful. Every weekend everyone's on edge, everyone's nervous.' The alleged poor behaviour was also slammed by NSW Sports Minister Steve Kamper, who stated the government has a 'zero tolerance' stance for such alleged incidents.
