Queensland police have declined to say how a mother and her 11-week-old daughter at the centre of a Rockhampton murder investigation died, other than to say police came across “quite a confronting scene”.
The man charged with the murder of his wife Tayla Cox, 30, and baby Murphy Margaret Cox, was remanded in custody on Friday morning.
Matthew James Cox was arrested after walking into a Brisbane police station on Thursday, allegedly telling police the woman and her 11-week old daughter were dead at the property hundreds of kilometres away in Rockhampton.
Cox, 31, did not appear in Brisbane magistrates court when his matter was mentioned briefly on Friday.
He was unable to apply for bail due to the serious nature of the charges.
Cox is able to appear by video when his matter is mentioned again in the same court on 21 August.
Police suspect Tayla Cox, 30, and baby Murphy Margaret Cox died on Tuesday, with Cox allegedly flying from Rockhampton to Brisbane that evening.
There was no history of domestic violence in the relationship and the man and woman were not known to police, Det Supt Darrin Shadlow said on Thursday.
Officers discovered the bodies in a “quite confronting” scene at the property and weren’t looking for anyone else in connection with the deaths, he said.
When asked whether it was a mental health-related incident, Shadlow said it “will obviously form part of our investigations”.
Shadlow ruled out reports a gunshot had been heard at the address but would not comment on how the mother and baby died other than to say police came across “quite a confronting scene”.
“A deceased infant child is always confronting for first responders,” he said.
The mother’s family had been notified, “and as you’d expect, they’re devastated”, Shadlow said.
Police will remain at the scene for days.
“We have scientific and forensic officers currently at the scene … they will be there for some time examining the scene and the investigations will be ongoing,” Shadlow said.
Cox’s vehicle was seized at the Rockhampton airport for forensic examination.
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