South Australia Police will examine its interactions with Helena Wright as part of a coronial investigation into the deaths of the young mother and her children near Port MacDonnell, Commissioner Grant Stevens says.
The bodies of Ms Wright and her 23-month-old daughter were recovered from waters off Cape Northumberland on July 27. Her three-month-old son is also presumed dead, although his body has not been found. Police are treating the case as a murder-suicide.
The review is expected to consider Ms Wright’s visit to Mount Gambier Police Station the day before she was found dead, along with any earlier contact she had with officers. The circumstances have prompted questions about whether warning signs were recognised and whether existing police procedures were adequate.
Police contact to form part of coronial report
Commissioner Stevens confirmed Ms Wright spoke with an officer during her visit to the station but said he could not publicly disclose the substance of that interaction while investigations continued.
He cautioned against assuming police could have prevented the tragedy. At the same time, he said the force had a responsibility to examine its conduct and determine whether its response was appropriate.
The commissioner said the report being prepared for the coroner would take a broad view of the case rather than focus only on the final incident. It will consider the events leading to the deaths and police interactions extending as far back as investigators consider necessary.
That process is separate from any eventual coronial inquest. Commissioner Stevens said police routinely assess major incidents internally and can change service delivery before formal coronial findings are handed down if shortcomings or opportunities for improvement are identified.
Questions remain after Mount Gambier visit
The disclosure that Ms Wright attended the Mount Gambier station shortly before her death has become a central element of the public discussion surrounding the case. Police have not said why she went to the station, what she told the officer or what action followed.
Those unanswered questions will now be examined within the wider investigation. The commissioner’s comments indicate the inquiry will consider both the immediate circumstances and the systems used by police when dealing with people who may be vulnerable or in crisis.
Commissioner Stevens said any lessons identified through the review would be acted on. He did not provide a timeframe for completion of the coronial report.
Recovery operation and investigation continue
Emergency crews recovered Ms Wright and her toddler from the sea off Port MacDonnell, a coastal community in South Australia’s south-east. The search for her infant son was later called off after authorities assessed that he was also likely to have died.
Police have released limited information about the evidence underpinning their murder-suicide assessment, and the full sequence of events remains subject to investigation. There is no suggestion that another person was involved.
The deaths have deeply affected the local community and renewed attention on how agencies respond when people present in distress. The coronial process is expected to test the known evidence, clarify the timeline and determine whether any preventative recommendations should be made.
Support is available
This story discusses suicide and the deaths of children. Anyone needing immediate help should call triple zero. Lifeline is available on 13 11 14, Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467, 13YARN on 13 92 76, and 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732.
Reporting is based on information published by ABC News and statements attributed to South Australia Police Commissioner Grant Stevens.