According to reports, a grandmother in Australia may face “serious charges” after her two grandsons, aged six and seven, were discovered dead.
On Monday, May 5, New South Wales police “attended a home on Emu Lane, Coonabarabran, following reports of a concern for welfare,” according to an original news release.
“Upon arrival, police officers attached to Orana Mid-Western Police District located two boys – aged 6 and 7 – deceased inside the home,” a news release stated.
“The woman – aged 66 – was arrested at the scene and taken to hospital for further assessment where she remains under hospital guard,” according to a release from police.
According to the Sydney Morning Herald, the younger child was discovered in a front bedroom of the residence, while the 7-year-old’s body was discovered in another bedroom, citing NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Andrew Holland, who spoke to reporters on Tuesday, May 6. According to the publication, one of the youngsters has been diagnosed with cancer.
According to the site, the grandma hurt herself. According to 9 News Australia, Holland, the suspect was initially brought to Dubbo Hospital before being transferred to an Orange mental health facility.
“Upon release, she will be handed back to police custody, where she is likely to face serious charges,” Holland told reporters, according to the Sydney Morning Herald, adding that it may be days or weeks before she is released.
According to Holland, authorities are treating the incident as a suspected double murder.
“It is a shocking tragedy that should not have happened,” the officer stated, according to the site. “These things surprise little country towns… The death of one child is tragic enough; the death of two is simply unthinkable.
According to ABC, the boys’ grandmother was their primary caregiver, and they had relocated to Coonabarabran from the NSW Central Coast approximately 11 months ago. According to the Sydney Morning Herald, the boys were living with their grandmother after the state withdrew them from their parents’ custody several years ago.
“The biological parents have been advised, as have the other set of grandparents,” Holland told reporters, according to ABC.
“Anyone confronted with the death of one child – let alone two – in these sorts of circumstances would be struggling,” he said in an interview with ABC.
“It was a very confronting situation for the young police officers involved,” Holland said of the cops who found the two lads, according to 9 News Australia, adding that one is back at work while the other is “not doing well.”
According to unnamed police sources, the woman called the Department of Communities and Justice and informed them that the children had died.
NSW Premier Chris Minns stated the Sydney Morning Herald on the tragedy, “What has occurred is terrible, and as a state we share in the community of Coonabarabran’s grief at the loss of two young boys who had their entire futures ahead of them.”
“I cannot begin to imagine the heartbreak their loved ones are currently feeling, including their family, friends and teachers,” Minns said, according to the report.
“I thank the local officers who attended the scene for their professionalism and bravery in the face of such a horrible event,” he said.
When PEOPLE called NSW Police on Tuesday, May 6, they had no new updates to provide.