World · East Asia & Pacific · 5 hrs ago
Five-year-old found dead restrained in sleeping bag in Australia
A five-year-old boy was found dead in Grafton, Australia, on October 12.
Police said he was restrained in a sleeping bag with adhesive tape over his eyes.
His siblings were also restrained but were found safe inside the home.
The boy’s father and stepmother told investigators they used the method to help the children sleep.
The family had been known to New South Wales social services for at least a year, and the boy had an intellectual disability.
An autopsy is expected to help establish how he died and whether the restraint played a role.
Police are continuing their investigation, and no arrests have been announced.
A five-year-old boy was found dead restrained to a sleeping bag with tape in a home in Grafton, New South Wales.
Police were called to the home at about 6:40 a.m. on Monday, 12 October, and attempts to revive him were unsuccessful.
His siblings were also found restrained in sleeping bags but were unharmed.
The boy’s father and stepmother told investigators they used the method to help the children sleep.
An autopsy is to determine the cause of death; no arrests had been announced in the reports.
- Who
- A five-year-old boy was found dead. His siblings were found unharmed, and his father and stepmother were questioned.
- What
- The boy was found restrained to a sleeping bag with adhesive tape, which also covered his eyes.
- When
- Monday, 12 October. Police were called at about 6:40 a.m.
- Where
- A family home in Grafton, New South Wales, about 640 kilometres from Sydney.
- Why
- His father and stepmother said they restrained the children to help them sleep. The cause of the boy’s death has not been established.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The family was being monitored by New South Wales’ Department of Communities and Justice.
A check was carried out concerning the boy, who had an intellectual disability.
Police were called to the Grafton home after a child was found unconscious.
Police and paramedics tried to revive the boy, but he died.
- Age
- 5 years old
- Location
- Grafton, New South Wales
- Distance from Sydney
- About 640 kilometres
- Police call
- About 6:40 a.m. on Monday, 12 October
- Other children
- Siblings were found restrained but unharmed
- Investigation
- An autopsy was planned; no arrests had been announced
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What people are saying
help them sleep