Police have revealed the appalling conditions discovered inside a residence where a man with Down’s Syndrome was found deceased, leading to the arrest of a woman on murder charges.
Emergency services responded to a call at 9:18 pm on Thursday, August 10, 2023, at a house on Alice Street in Ayr, south of Townsville, Queensland, where Isaac, also known as ‘Ike,’ was found unresponsive and pronounced dead at the scene. Detectives initiated a suspicious death investigation and secured the area as a crime scene.
The investigation into the death of the 56-year-old Isaac, who was non-verbal and had Down’s Syndrome, has been intricate, with detectives delving into his health, care, and history of treatment.
After an extensive three-year inquiry, a 70-year-old woman was apprehended and charged with murder on Tuesday.
Body camera footage depicted the chaotic state of the home, with narrow pathways cluttered with cardboard boxes, clothing, and miscellaneous items, obscuring the furniture.
According to a statement from the Queensland Police, the Crime Command Homicide Investigation Unit and Ayr Criminal Investigation Branch arrested the Forest Lake woman, charging her with murder related to domestic violence. She is set to appear in the Brisbane Magistrates Court.
The investigation unraveled that Isaac, weighing a mere 29kg due to severe malnourishment at the time of his death, was found unresponsive at his residence on Alice Street in August 2023. Detectives continue to probe into his health, care, and treatment history.