A grandmother has been charged with the alleged double murders of two schoolboys in NSW’s west as their devastated parents share a heartfelt tribute.
Sam, six, and Max, seven, were found dead at a semi-rural property on the outskirts of Coonabarabran in northwest NSW on Monday afternoon.
Police charged the boys’ 66-year-old maternal grandmother, Kathy Heggs, with two counts of murder.
She was refused bail and will appear at Parramatta Bail Court on Saturday.
It’s understood the 66-year-old remains in a mental health facility in Orange.
It comes as the parents of the young boys said they ‘adored each other’ in a heartbreaking tribute to their sons.
The boys were removed from the care of Samantha Heggs and Troy Johnson, about four years ago. Mr Johnson revealed Sam had recently beat cancer.
‘What he went through, the pain, the way he beat that cancer. He’s my hero,’ the grief-stricken father told 9News.
The brothers, aged seven and six, were found dead at a semi-rural property on the outskirts of Coonabarabran in northwest NSW on Monday afternoon (the boys are pictured at karate)
The boys were removed from the care of Samantha Heggs and Troy Johnson, four years ago. Mr Johnson revealed Sam had recently beat cancer (the couple are pictured)
On Monday afternoon, two officers went to the home after a message sent to the communities and justice department triggered an emergency response.
The officers broke into the house to find the boys’ bodies in separate bedrooms, while their grandmother was nearby.
The woman was taken to Orange Police Station after she was released from hospital on Friday.
A crime scene was established, and officers from the Orana mid-western police district and detectives from the state’s homicide squad have commenced an investigation.
Grieving members of a small rural community gathered to honour the lives of the two boys on Friday.
A tree was to be planted for each boy, along with a ceremonial presentation of the karate students’ yellow belts.
Warrumbungle Shire councillor Kodi Brady told AAP he hoped the vigil would help the community cope with the tragedy.
‘It’s a really important part, to take the community on the stepping stone of healing from the shock of the incident to another step forward in the grief and loss process,’ he said.
On Monday afternoon, two officers went to the home (pictured) after a message sent to the communities and justice department triggered an emergency response
Grieving members of a small rural community gathered to honour the lives of the two boys
‘We’re a small rural town, there is such a ripple effect… it has impacted the whole community.’
1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)
Lifeline 13 11 14
