Warning: This article contains the name and image of a deceased Indigenous individual.
In a tragic incident on October 15, Jordana Johnson, 36, her 13-year-old son Jordan Norris, and his 12-year-old friend Chazz Mather died in a fire that engulfed a home on Whiting Street in Toolooa. The boys were having a sleepover at the time of the incident.
Today, authorities charged a 37-year-old woman from Toolooa with three counts of murder and two counts of arson in connection with the fire.
According to police, the accused had a relationship with the victims. It is alleged that she was present on the street on the morning of the fire and was subsequently hospitalized with minor injuries.
Police say the accused is known to the victims.
It’s alleged she was in the street on the morning of the fire and was taken to hospital with minor injuries at the time.
9News understands she is still receiving care and faced a bedside hearing today.
Police have not revealed if the case was being treated as a mental health incident.
“It’s only early days in the investigation, we have still got further enquiries to be made in relation to this and due to that, that’s why we don’t feel quite comfortable commenting on the exact details of the offence,” Detective Acting Inspector Brett Richard said.
A vigil will be held at Barney Point Beach on Saturday at 9.30am (AEST) as the community reckons with the tragedy.
Community members have been invited to lay fresh flowers on the waterline.
An online fundraiser for Johnson’s two daughters and Chazz’s mother and siblings has so far raised more than $32,000.
Tributes have poured in for the mother and boys over the past week.
Local mother Annie-May Platt told 9News the tragedy was “heartbreaking”.
“We’re really close around here, all the kids know each other,” Platt said.
Her young son Benjamin was close friends with both of the boys killed in the blaze.
“They were my best friends,” Benjamin said.
Another local, Jeff, remembered Chazz as having “the cheekiest grin”.
Tributes have also been posted to social media.
“Just 13 years old, trying to chase your dreams. I love you endlessly and you’ll forever be in my heart,” one said.
“Three beautiful souls taken from us too early,” another wrote.
“Love you little bros, hope you guys are mucking around up there,” a third added.
