Police examine suspected murder-suicide on Parramatta River
NSW Police are investigating the deaths of a man and a six-year-old girl in Sydney’s inner west as a suspected murder-suicide, after both were recovered from the Parramatta River at Concord on Saturday. The case has prompted a homicide investigation and renewed attention on how welfare concerns are escalated when children may be at risk.
Emergency services were called to the Bayview Park area shortly before 11:45am after reports that a man had been found dead in the water. Police later recovered the body of the child, who investigators say had been with the man on a small hired boat earlier that morning. The vessel was subsequently found unattended in the bay.
Police have said the man, aged in his 40s, was the child’s father. A friend had contacted authorities on the same day with concerns for both the man and the girl, according to investigators. The mother of the child is being supported by police as detectives work through the circumstances leading up to the deaths.
Note and life jackets found on boat
Marine Area Commander Superintendent Joe McNulty said officers located life jackets on the hired vessel, including a child-sized jacket, as well as a suicide note and other evidence. Police have not publicly detailed the contents of the note, but said the discovery is among the material that has led investigators to treat the incident as a suspected murder-suicide.
The recovery operation involved water police, police divers and aviation resources. Superintendent Christine McDonald from Burwood Police Area Command described the deaths as an “absolute tragedy” for the family and the wider community. She said over the weekend that domestic violence was a definite line of inquiry, although police have also confirmed the man was not previously known to them.
Investigators are also reviewing CCTV from nearby waterfront properties and speaking with witnesses, including local residents and people connected to the boat hire operation. The homicide squad is now involved, and a report will be prepared for the coroner.
Community shaken by deaths
The quiet foreshore area around Concord became the centre of a major emergency response on Saturday, with residents describing a heavy police presence as officers searched the water and secured the scene. Locals told reporters the deaths had deeply affected the community, particularly because the victim was a young child.
While police have released only limited details, the known sequence of events has raised difficult questions about family violence risk, mental health distress and the challenges authorities face when warnings emerge shortly before a crisis. Detectives will now focus on building a clear timeline of the boat hire, the movements of the father and daughter, and the welfare report made by the man’s friend.
The case is also likely to be closely examined by the coroner, whose role will include considering whether any systemic lessons can be drawn from the response and the information available before the deaths. Police have urged anyone with relevant information about the incident at Concord or the movements of the hired vessel to contact Crime Stoppers or their local police station.
Support services available
Authorities and family violence services repeatedly stress that help is available for people experiencing violence, coercive control, emotional crisis or concern about another person’s safety. In an emergency, Australians should call Triple Zero. Lifeline is available on 13 11 14, 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732, and the NSW Domestic Violence Line on 1800 656 463.
For now, the investigation remains active. Police have framed the deaths as a “senseless” tragedy and say their immediate priority is supporting the child’s mother and family while detectives continue gathering evidence from the river scene, the boat and nearby witnesses.
Sources: ABC News, The Guardian Australia, NSW Police comments reported publicly on 15 June 2026.
