Warnings about sisters’ mum allegedly ignored
THOMAS CHAMBERLIN AND ELISE WILLIAMS
FAMILY and friends of accused child murderer KerriAnn Conley claim they tried to raise concerns about the children before the two young girls died in a hot car.
Darcey-Helen, 2, and Chloe-Ann, 1, were pulled unresponsive from a car in Waterford West, south of Brisbane, just after 1.30pm on Saturday.
Ms Conley, 27, will face Brisbane Magistrates’ Court today charged with murder.
It is not clear how long the girls had been in the car.
A relative of Ms Conley yesterday said there were several attempts to alert the department of child safety.
“I know of four people that made reports to them and other agencies and nothing was done. (They) just got told they would look into it and do a property check of who lived there,” the relative said.
The father of DarceyHelen said he was devastated.
He said he was also a father figure to Chloe-Ann.
“Darcey and Chloe were loved by anyone and everyone who met them. I absolutely adored them both,” the father, who asked not to be named, said.
“Darcey had a contagious laugh and Chloe really, although they were 12 months apart, wasn’t really that far behind Darcey. I think she learnt a lot off Darcey.”
Darcey-Helen’s father said the girls would play in his backyard, his daughter riding a bicycle and Chloe sitting in an attached trailer.
“They just giggled all the time, the pair of them,” he said. “They were just two peas in a pod.
He said Ms Conley loved her girls.
“If you had seen videos, photos, that I’ve got of KerriAnn and the girls, mate … she adored them and they adored her,” he said.
Detective Inspector Mark White said the children showed exposure to extreme heat.
“We are in the process of conducting an investigation but also being mindful of the tragic circumstances,” he said.