Two foster children have been removed from the care of a convicted transgender triple murderer, after authorities reportedly knew about the arrangement since late December 2025, according to local media sources.
Reginald Arthurell, who began the transition to a female identity following his release from prison in 2020, was taken out of the residence by heavily armed police during a raid on Monday, as reported by radio station 2GB.
The children, aged 12 and 14, had been living with Arthurell for several months, the outlet revealed.
On Tuesday, the New South Wales (NSW) Minister for Families and Communities issued a public apology, acknowledging that the situation was unacceptable. “It is completely inappropriate for a vulnerable child under state care to be placed with a triple murderer,” Kate Washington told 2GB. “This should never have occurred, and I express my deepest apologies for this oversight.”
Washington further stated that the authorities made “very poor decisions” upon learning of the situation. She announced that a review is underway to understand how such “terrible” circumstances were permitted to unfold, assuring that systemic reforms will follow.
She added that “very poor decisions were made” at the time when authorities became aware of the situation and said a review is underway to determine how the “terrible” circumstances were allowed to happen, promising systemic changes.
The situation has sparked widespread backlash and calls for the resignation of authorities who allowed the crisis to continue for months.
Late last year, Arthurell moved into an existing foster home in Sydney, where two children were already living under the care of an elderly woman, 2GB reported.
He reportedly met her while she was working at a hospital, and he was a patient there.
The woman, who invited him to move in as a housemate, already had two foster children living with her under her approved placement with the New South Wales Department of Communities and Justice.
Arthurell therefore shared the household with the children.
The arrangement went unnoticed by authorities until the carer’s daughter reportedly raised concerns late last year.
Prior to moving in, Arthurell had built a long criminal history, primarily involving the killings of three people over three decades, court documents show.
He was first convicted of manslaughter in 1974 for reportedly stabbing his stepfather to death in Sydney.
In 1981, he fatally bashed a 19-year-old sailor during a violent robbery, and while on parole in 1995, he killed his fiancée by beating her to death with a piece of wood, local outlets reported.
After killing his romantic partner, he was caught photographing himself wearing one of her dresses, 2GB added.
All three killings involved alcohol, court documents show. Records indicate that Arthurell spent nearly 39 years of his life in custody following the murders.
After his prison release in November 2020, Arthurell began transitioning into a woman under the name Regina.
The first public photos and self-introductions appeared on a transgender community Facebook page in May 2021, 2GB reported.
Arthurell had also expressed plans to undergo gender-affirming surgery “as soon as possible,” News.com.au reported.
Court documents also described that “her transition has been taking place over quite some years,” confirming the process was ongoing after his release.
Arthurell now remains in private accommodation following his Monday removal, ABC Australia reported Tuesday.
