SA Mother Attended Police Day Before Suspected Murder-Suicide on July 29

South Australia Police confirmed that Helena Wright, 36, visited Mount Gambier Police Station on Sunday, July 26, the day before she and her 23-month-old daughter were found dead in the ocean near Port Macdonnell. Police also conducted a welfare check at Wright’s Compton home at 9:28am on Monday, July 27, after a friend called. Hours later, her body and her daughter’s were recovered from the water. Her three-month-old son remains missing. Police are treating the deaths as a murder-suicide and have ended the formal search for the infant.

Police contact before the tragedy

Helena Wright attended Mount Gambier Police Station on Sunday, July 26, and spoke with officers. The next morning at 9:28am, a friend called police to request a welfare check at Wright’s Compton home, about 26 kilometres north of Port Macdonnell. When officers arrived, nobody was home. Superintendent Trent Cox said any interactions Wright had with police would form part of the brief of evidence provided to the coroner.

Bodies found near Cape Northumberland

At 11:13am on Monday, July 27, members of the public reported Wright’s car abandoned with its engine running at Cape Northumberland near Port Macdonnell. Police and local fishermen found Wright’s body and her 23-month-old daughter in the water below the cliffs. The three-month-old son could not be found. Police visited her home just hours before she was found.

Search for infant called off

Emergency services searched for the missing three-month-old for three days across water and land around Cape Northumberland. On Wednesday, July 29, at 4:30pm, police ended the official search. Based on expert advice, police said the infant could not have survived the period of time that had elapsed, either in the water or on land. Superintendent Cox stated the chances of finding the baby alive were zero after three days.

Investigation classified as murder-suicide

South Australia Police confirmed on Wednesday that they are treating the deaths as a murder-suicide. Police have spoken to Wright’s husband, the father of the children, and found no evidence that any other person was involved. The matter is now subject to a coronial investigation, and police will provide all relevant information and evidence to the coroner.

Final Thoughts

The tragedy has prompted a coronial investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths. Police confirmed Wright’s contact with them the day before the incident, but have not disclosed details of that interaction while the investigation is underway.

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