Woman, 70, charged following death of malnourished non-verbal man
A 70-year-old woman has been charged with the murder of a malnourished man with Down syndrome in rural North Queensland three years ago.
Police arrested the Forest Lake woman on Tuesday and charged her with murder following the death of Isaac Oar in August 2023 following a “complex” investigation.
The woman, 70, was arrested following a “complex” investigation. NSW Police
Emergency crews were called to an Alice Street home in Ayr, in rural North Queensland, on August 10, 2023, after reports that 56-year-old Isaac Oar, also known as ‘Ike’, was found unresponsive.
He was pronounced dead at the scene, and due to the circumstances, authorities began a suspicious death investigation.
Queensland Police investigated Ike’s death, who was both non-verbal and had Down syndrome, combing through his health, care and treatment across his life.
Investigations and forensic examinations found he was experiencing severe malnourishment and weighed just 29kg at the time of his death.
Detective Inspector Jason Shepherd said earlier this year that police would not be satisfied until the investigation is complete.
“We will continue to investigate all aspects of Isaac Oar’s family dynamics, health, care and treatment in the weeks, months and years leading up to his death,” he said.
“I urge anyone who had contact with Isaac or his family over in the months leading to his death to contact police. Any piece of information, no matter how small, can have a significant impact on our investigation.”
The Forest Lake woman is set to front Brisbane Magistrates Court today.
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