Latest news with #Coonabarabran
The Sun
2 days ago
- The Sun
Harrowing new details revealed in autopsy report after grandma accused of murdering two grandsons in their rural home
TWO children found dead in their rural home were allegedly drugged before being smothered, an autopsy has revealed. Aussie brothers Max, 6, and Sam Johnson, 7, were found dead on May 5 - with their grandma arrested at the scene. 2 2 A post-mortem examination has found traces of prescription drugs in the boys' systems, according to the Daily Telegraph. Police allege their grandma, Kathleen Heggs, 66, gave her grandsons the medications before suffocating them with a pillow. Heggs allegedly sent a text to authorities saying the two boys were dead and that she planned to take her own life. When cops arrived at the scene, they found the boys dead in separate rooms and Heggs with self-inflicted injuries. She was arrested and taken to the mental health unit at Orange Hospital before being transferred into custody. On May 21, Heggs was charged with two counts of domestic violence murder. The siblings were reportedly sleeping when the alleged murders occurred. Heggs, the sole carer for the boys, moved with them over a year ago to a home on the outskirts of Coonabarabran in rural New South Wales. According to The Sydney Morning Herald, the move was prompted after the woman "witnessed an incident involving her family too graphic to publish details of, and became known to police as a victim of crime". The boys' dad told the Daily Telegraph that he and his partner had trusted Heggs to care for the children, as they were both struggling with mental health issues. The couple had not seen the children for five years before their deaths. "This is not how we were meant to get them back," he said. "We are completely broken... but those boys deserve a good send off, and that's what we are going to give them." The boys will be buried wearing their karate uniforms, each with a yellow belt they were due to earn the same week their lives were tragically cut short. A family friend, who has a son the same age as the boys, said he would see them at karate lessons, football matches and school. He said there were no clear signs the family was struggling, describing Heggs as a "beautiful lady" and the boys as "cute little kids, full of energy". He said locals have been really hard-hit by the news. "This is a tragedy, and it's affecting so many. Petty crime happens and that, but it's a very safe community, we don't have problems like the cities." It comes as investigators found human remains on Friday in the search for Aussie teen Pheobe Bishop, who vanished three weeks ago. Pheobe's two housemates James Wood and Tanika Bromley were charged with murder on Thursday, along with two counts of interfering with a corpse.
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Daily Mail
Bombshell new details revealed after two young boys found dead in their grandmother's house - rocking a regional Aussie community to its core
Two young boys found dead on a country NSW property had allegedly been drugged before they were smothered, an autopsy has revealed. 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.
Daily Mail
21-05-2025
- Daily Mail
How grandmother accused of murdering her two grandsons in their rural home plans to fight the charges
Mental health will be the central issue in the case of a woman accused of murdering her two young grandsons in their rural home. Kathleen Joyce Heggs, 66, has been charged with two counts of domestic violence murder over the deaths of Max and Sam Johnson, aged six and seven. The brothers were found dead in their home on the outskirts of Coonabarabran, in northwest NSW, on the afternoon of FMay 5. Heggs had harmed herself and was arrested and taken to a mental health unit at Orange hospital. Her case was briefly mentioned in Dubbo Local Court on Wednesday, and she was not required to appear from custody. 'This is going to be a question of my client's mental health at the time of the offences,' Heggs' solicitor Christopher Ford told the court. Mr Ford did not object to an application by NSW Police to conduct a forensic procedure on Heggs. Magistrate Brett Shields confirmed an order for the unspecified procedure to be carried out. 'I've just spoken to her and she's trying to contact you,' Mr Ford said. Mr Dickens repeatedly asked Mr Ford not to discuss Heggs' legal representation in an open forum. 'Please stop talking about this in an open court in the presence of the media,' Mr Dickens said. Mr Ford later asked that legal documents be sent to his office in the city. Before the matter was heard in front of the magistrate, Mr Ford had an exchange with a Legal Aid lawyer who had been initially instructed by Heggs. Mr Ford, via video-link from Sydney, announced he was appearing for Heggs. Senior Legal Aid solicitor Bill Dickens said he had spoken to Heggs earlier in the morning and received instructions from her. Mr Ford insisted he was representing her. Heggs was the sole carer for the two boys and the family had moved from the NSW Central Coast to Coonabarabran about a year ago. Two junior police officers broke into their house on a semi-rural property after a message sent to the communities and justice department triggered an emergency response. They found the boys' bodies in their bedrooms. After treatment in a mental health facility, Heggs was taken into custody. At her first court appearance, five days after her arrest, police documents alleged she may have killed the boys as early as 10.30am on May 5. Police have previously said there were no weapons involved in the alleged murders. The boys' deaths shook Coonabarabran, where they went to the local primary school and attended karate classes. Community members held a candlelight vigil in a park by the Castlereagh River, where they planted two trees in the boys' honour and displayed the yellow karate belts they were due to receive. Warrumbungle Shire Councillor Kodi Brady read a poem describing the boys as 'wild as March hares, full of spark and flame'. Heggs' case will return to court on July 10.
The Guardian
21-05-2025
- The Guardian
Mental health of NSW grandmother accused of murdering two grandsons will be central issue in case, court hears
Mental health will be the central issue in the case of a woman accused of murdering her two young grandsons in their rural home. Kathleen Joyce Heggs, 66, has been charged with two counts of domestic violence murder over the deaths of Max and Sam Johnson, aged seven and six. The brothers were found dead in their home on the outskirts of Coonabarabran, in northwest New South Wales, on the afternoon of 5 May. Heggs, their maternal grandmother, had harmed herself and was arrested and taken to a mental health unit at Orange hospital. Her case was briefly mentioned in Dubbo local court on Wednesday, and she was not required to appear from custody. 'This is going to be a question of my client's mental health at the time of the offences,' Heggs' solicitor Christopher Ford told the court. Ford did not object to an application by NSW Police to conduct a forensic procedure on Heggs. Magistrate Brett Shields confirmed an order for the unspecified procedure to be carried out. Before the matter was heard in front of the magistrate, Ford had an exchange with a Legal Aid lawyer who had been initially instructed by Heggs. Ford, via video-link from Sydney, announced he was appearing for Heggs. Senior Legal Aid solicitor Bill Dickens said he had spoken to Heggs earlier in the morning and received instructions from her. Ford insisted he was representing her. 'I've just spoken to her and she's trying to contact you,' Ford said. Dickens repeatedly asked Ford not to discuss Heggs' legal representation in an open forum. 'Please stop talking about this in an open court in the presence of the media,' Dickens said. Ford later asked that legal documents be sent to his office in the city. Heggs was the sole carer for her grandsons and the family had moved from the NSW Central Coast to Coonabarabran about a year ago. Two junior police officers broke into their house on a semi-rural property after a message sent to the communities and justice department triggered an emergency response. They found the boys' bodies in their bedrooms. After treatment in a mental health facility, Heggs has been taken into custody, a NSW Corrective Services spokeswoman confirmed. At Heggs' first court appearance, five days after her arrest, police documents alleged she may have killed the boys as early as 10.30am on 5 May. Police have previously said there were no weapons involved in the alleged murders. The boys' deaths shook Coonabarabran, where they went to the local primary school and attended karate classes. Community members held a candlelight vigil in a park by the Castlereagh River, where they planted two trees in the boys' honour and displayed the yellow karate belts they were due to receive. Warrumbungle Shire Councillor Kodi Brady read a poem describing the boys as 'wild as March hares, full of spark and flame'. Heggs' case will return to court on 10 July.
ABC News
10-05-2025
- ABC News
Woman charged with murder of two grandsons in Coonabarabran
A woman has been charged with murder over the deaths of her six- and seven-year-old grandsons in western New South Wales. Police say they were called to a home just outside of Coonabarabran on Monday afternoon, following reports about a concern for welfare.
