Divers scour Tweed Heads River for baby girl murder clues

POLICE investigating the murder of a baby girl whose body washed up on a Gold Coast beach say they cannot rule out charging her Geelongraised mother over the death.

Police were yesterday scouring the Tweed Heads River and surrounding areas for clues, more than a week after nine-month old child was killed.

They were looking for a red and black picnic-style blanket that may have washed ashore between Tweed Heads and the Gold Coast.

Detectives believe the girl was drowned in the area of the Jack Evans Harbour at Tweed Heads between 6pm and 7pm on Saturday, November 17.

Her body is believed to have drifted for almost 30 hours before washing ashore at Surfers Paradise Beach.

The girl’s remains were discovered shortly after midnight the following Monday.

Her father, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has been charged with murder and appeared by video link in Tweed Heads Local Court last week.

NSW Police Chief Inspector Wayne Walpole said Monday’s tidal conditions were similar those on the night of the girl’s death.

Water police and divers will search the Tweed River and foreshore areas while others scour foreshores and parkland around Jack Evans Harbour and Cunningham Park.

Police were conducting dives in line with tidal and current flows to try to determine what happened on the day of the incident.

They are also asking for anyone who was in the area on the night of November 17 to come forward.

Asked if the girl’s mother, who grew up in Geelong, could be charged, Insp Walpole said the investigation was ongoing and it could not be ruled out.