Kerri-Ann Conley did not appear in court today. Photo / Facebook
Kerri-Ann Conley did not appear in court today. Photo / Facebook
The babysitter of two little girls who died after being left inside a hot car in Queensland claims it had happened before.
Gina McKenzie, who regularly looked after the girls, told The Australian there had been previous complaints to authorities about the children's welfare, including them being left in theirmother's car.
"It had happened before as welfare had been contacted a number of times by people complaining," Ms McKenzie said.
The lifeless bodies of Darcey-Helen, 2, and Chloe-Ann's, were carried from their Logan home, south of Brisbane, soaking wet, after desperate attempts to revive and cool them at about 1.35pm on Saturday, news.com.au reports.
The temperature in the area was 31C at the time and there are reports their mother, Kerri-Ann Conley, had fallen asleep inside.
Family and friends of Conley claim they made multiple attempts to alert the authorities to concerns they held for the two children.
"I know of four people that made reports to them and other agencies and nothing was done," a family member told The Courier-Mail.
"(They) just got told they would look into it and do a property check of who lived there."
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk confirmed this morning that the family were known to the Department of Child Safety and said an investigation will now commence.
"My information is yes they had contact with Child Safety," she said.
Darcey and Chloe. Photo / Supplied
In addition to the murder charges, Conley, 27, has been charged two drug-related charges, possessing dangerous drugs and possessing utensils or a pipe.
She did not appear when her matter was mentioned in Brisbane Magistrates Court today. Conley was remanded in custody to appear in Beenleigh Magistrates Court on December 11.
The Australian said it was understood police were investigating whether drugs had played a role in the tragedy.
Detectives investigating the deaths are now seeking a new witness seen in the area on CCTV.
The man was wearing high visibility clothing and walking along Logan Reserve Rd about the same time the children's bodies were found, 7 News reports.
Police say the man is not a suspect but they believe he may have important information and are keen to speak to him.
The shattered father of Darcey-Helen, who he called "Pumpkin", told The Courier Mail he was devastated, also being a father figure to Chloe-Ann.
"Darcey and Chloe were loved by anyone and everyone who met them. I absolutely adored them both," the father, who asked not to be named, said.
Kerri-Ann Conley did not appear in court today. Photo / Facebook
"Darcey had a contagious laugh and Chloe really, although they were 12 months apart, wasn't really that far behind Darcey. I think she learnt a lot off Darcey, mannerisms."
He said the pair giggled all the time and repeated everything others said.
Neighbours, who have paid tribute to the "gorgeous little girls", said they saw them soaking wet.
"The police were carrying the girls out … their shirts were ripped open like they'd tried to save them," one woman, who did not want to be named, told The Sunday Mail.
9 News reports Ms Conley discovered the pair and rushed them inside in an attempt to cool their bodies.
It was claimed she desperately tried to splash water on them after finding them.
Neighbour Willow Dawes was visibly shocked by the distressing scenes.
"I came out when the ambulance pulled up and saw the children being brought out," she told the The Sunday Mail. "It's pretty upsetting and it was quite confronting."
One woman, who did not want to be named, said she knew the family and the "gorgeous little girls".
"They were always dressed beautifully and just happy little girls," she told the newspaper. "They were always out in the yard playing and they were always happy little girls, that's for sure. They were gorgeous little girls."
Queensland Police Detective Inspector Mark White said it was a very tragic incident.
A friend of the family described the girls as "two beautiful angels".
"Darcey had a very caring heart for her sister and us all and the most amazing cuddles and kisses, and just as any toddler does, she liked to see how far she would get with being a bit mischievous," she told The Courier-Mail.
Neighbours said the family had moved in as recently as six months ago.
