A police officer has been commended by senior leadership for placing himself in danger to rescue a young child from a suspected murder-suicide scene in Charleville, Queensland.
Michael Waltke, 45, and Julia Brunsdon, 23, were discovered dead inside a property on King Street following reports of a serious assault around 6pm on Wednesday.
Officer's brave rescue
Upon arrival, officers encountered a "violent and confronting scene," finding weapons inside the home and a young girl of "walking age" on the front steps. Assistant Commissioner Matthew Vanderbyl praised the officer's actions, stating he put himself "back into harm's way" to retrieve the child and bring her to safety.
"Police actually put themselves back into what I consider to be harm's way to remove that child from the premises," Vanderbyl said. "It's quite clear, though, that that child may well have witnessed what has been a tragic set of events."
Child found covered in blood
A neighbour who witnessed the events revealed the child was covered in blood when police found her. "She had blood literally splattered all over her shirt. It was bloodstained everywhere," the neighbour told the Courier Mail.
The blood was not the toddler's, as police confirmed she was taken to hospital but found to be unharmed. The neighbour added that the officer held the girl for about 30 minutes with her head facing away from the scene "as if trying to protect her."
Investigation ongoing
Investigations into the incident remain ongoing, with police working to determine the cause and time of death.
Community in mourning
The incident has sent shockwaves through the rural town of about 4000 residents and the broader Shire of Murweh, according to Mayor Shaun Radnedge.
"On behalf of the whole Murweh Shire Council communities, I extend my deepest condolences to the family, friends and loved ones of the two people who have lost their lives," Radnedge said in a social media post. "This is a heartbreaking day for Charleville and for the wider Murweh community. We're a close-knit community and an incident of this nature is felt deeply by many people."
The mayor acknowledged the "difficult and dangerous situation" that police and emergency services responded to and vowed to support his constituents. "While the investigation is now a matter for police and the coroner, council's focus is on supporting our community through the days ahead," he said. "Please do not carry this burden on your own. Charleville is strong because of the people that live in our communities, and I ask all of us that we stick together and look after each other."
