Officer given ‘sob story’ before murder-suicide
The father who allegedly killed his baby in a murder-suicide was reportedly caught driving over the alcohol limit on the night the 6-month-old went missing — but was let off by police.
He was stopped for speeding and returned a low to mid-range blood alcohol level, and was given an infringement notice after telling the officer a “sob story”, a police source told Nine News.
The Queensland police officer — who was said to be distraught at news of the deaths — reportedly searched the back of the car, but did not see a child.
The stop took place not far from where the two bodies were found in a red Holden Commodore, parked at a remote Queensland campsite on Wednesday morning.
The baby, identified only as William, was reported missing by his mother on Monday after his father, 46, failed to return her son as per court-ordered arrangement.
But police did not issue an Amber Alert, or high-risk child abduction emergency broadcast to facilitate a search and recovery.
Queensland Police said there was not enough evidence for an alert to be issued.
The boy lived with his mother in the Brisbane suburb of Redcliffe, 60km from where his body was found in the Beerburrum State Forest, 80km north of Brisbane.
Detective Inspector Dave Drinnen said the lack of an Amber Alert will be looked into and that the mother and father separated after domestic violence incidents.
Police were unable to confirm how the father and son died and a post-mortem will be undertaken.