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🇦🇺 Australia /Crime & Justice

Sydney Bay Deaths of Father and Daughter Treated as Murder-Suicide

From ABC Australia · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Under investigation
  • Police are investigating the deaths of a father and his six-year-old daughter found in a Sydney bay as a suspected murder-suicide.
  • The pair were found in the Parramatta River after their small boat was discovered unattended.
  • Domestic violence is being considered a significant line of inquiry by investigators.

Police are investigating the deaths of a man and his young daughter, discovered in a Sydney bay, as a suspected murder-suicide. The father, in his 40s, and his six-year-old daughter were found in the waters of the Parramatta River on Saturday, June 14, 2026, after their small boat was found floating unattended in Concord.

It would rock any mother to the core.

— Superintendent Christine McDonaldDescribing the impact on the child's mother.

Officers were called to Bayview Park following reports of a man found dead in the water. Earlier that day, a friend of the man had contacted police expressing concerns for the welfare of both the man and the child. Marine area command, police divers, and aviation command were involved in the extensive operation to recover the bodies.

Such a young life and had a world ahead of her, it's just a tragedy.

— Graham AstonA Concord resident commenting on the death of the six-year-old girl.

Superintendent Christine McDonald of the Burwood Police Area Command described the incident as an "absolute tragedy for the family and for the community on every level." She confirmed that domestic violence is a "definite line of inquiry" for the homicide squad, which is now leading the investigation. The mother of the child is reportedly being assisted by police.

It would rock any mother to the core.

— Superintendent Christine McDonaldDescribing the impact on the child's mother.

Local residents expressed their grief, with Concord resident Graham Aston telling ABC News, "Such a young life and had a world ahead of her, it's just a tragedy." A report will be prepared for the coroner. The man had hired the boat from a local company.

Such a young life and had a world ahead of her, it's just a tragedy.

— Graham AstonA Concord resident commenting on the death of the six-year-old girl.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Australia in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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