An Australian mother is under investigation amid allegations of cannibalism after her 4-year-old son was discovered dead with severe injuries to one of his arms.
The 32-year-old woman went to a police station in Wyong, a town north of Sydney, on Saturday, prompting officers to carry out a welfare check at her home, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.
When police arrived, they found the body of a young boy with extensive arm injuries. Authorities described the scene as so distressing that emergency personnel required access to support services.
Investigators are examining whether cannibalism may have played a role in the child’s death following “discussions” with the boy’s mother, the SMH reported.
Nine News reported that the child may have been dead for several days before he was found.
“I’m prepared to say publicly at the moment, it was an extremely confronting scene. It’s been confirmed the child had injuries. I am not going to speculate further on what those injuries are,” Superintendent Chad Gillies of Tuggerah Lakes Police said during a Sunday morning press conference.
The mother, whose name has not been released, was taken into custody at the police station and charged Sunday with murder and domestic violence.
Police also impounded her vehicle and collected additional evidence as part of the investigation.
Police and emergency services who were at the disturbing scene are receiving support, Gillies said.
“This is a confronting scene for even the most experienced police and ambulance, and that’s why we need to support them,” he said.
The crime has stunned Wyong, a quiet coastal town where neighbors said they had seen no signs of any trouble.
“[The boy] was all happy, seen him walking the dog and walking up and down the street. He was very energetic,” said a neighbor who previously worked on the mom’s car.
“[The boy] goes, ‘Oh, you’re working on mom’s car, has she broken it again?’ He was happy. We couldn’t see signs of anything,” added the neighbor, who didn’t want to be named.
The mom and son had moved into the rental home earlier this year after an alleged domestic-violence incident between the woman and an ex-partner, another neighbor said.
The mom was denied bail after failing to appear in court Sunday.
She is due back in court in Wyong on Sept. 1.
