A toddler who tragically died in a Queensland police station on Saturday has been identified as three-year-old boy Caden Case.
Caden was inside a white Mazda 323 with his 24-year-old father, 22-year-old mother and one-year-old brother when the car veered off Burnside Road at Yatala, in south-east Queensland, at 5am on Saturday.
The father left the scene with the one-year-old, while a bystander helped the mother and Caden out of the vehicle and took them to Beenleigh Police Station.
The boy was unresponsive on arrival at the police station and officers urgently performed CPR, however he died in the foyer.
Police said they are investigating whether the car was deliberately crashed.
On Sunday evening, multiple sources connected to Caden’s devastated mother, Aneshia-Lea Case, confirmed the tragic loss to Daily Mail.
A GoFundMe started by Ms Case’s cousin Brittney Moffitt to help pay for Caden’s funeral expenses had raised more than $2300 by Sunday night.
A picture shared within the fundraiser showed blonde-haired Caden grinning cheekily while wearing a red T-shirt.
Three-year-old Caden Case (pictured) died at Beenleigh Police Station on Saturday after being involved in a car crash at Yatala, in south-east Queensland
An investigation has been launched into whether the car was intentionally driven off the road and if the couple, who had previously separated, had been arguing in the lead-up to the crash
‘My cousin has tragically lost her 3 year old son in a car accident… a mother’s worst nightmare,’ wrote Ms Moffitt.
‘As all our hearts are breaking I want to take a little pressure of her by asking for everyone’s help to a raise some money for his funeral, no mother should have to bury (her) baby, let alone have the stress of worrying about paying for it.
‘She’s only 22 and has just lost her baby who made her a mum, and her heart is breaking.
‘If you could please find it in your heart to help we would all be so appreciative.
‘May our little angel boy rest in peace.’
Ms Moffitt has been contacted for comment.
Meanwhile, Caden’s great-grandmother Susan Case Thiele paid an emotional tribute to her great-grandson on Facebook.
‘Our family has lost a beautiful little boy who was a firecracker,’ she said.
A witness driving behind the car pulled over and took Caden and his mother to Beenleigh Police Station at the mother’s request, police said
Detective Acting Superintendent Mark Mooney (pictured) said police were looking into any possible domestic violence links
Mrs Case’s husband Nigel, Caden’s great-grandfather, told Daily Mail on Sunday night that the family’s pain was still ‘very raw’.
‘We are leaving it all up to the police. We do not want to jeopardise the case,’ he said.
It is understood Caden is survived by his brother, one-year-old Leo.
Queensland Police are investigating the possibility the crash was deliberate and if the couple – who had been separated for about a year – had been arguing in the lead-up to the incident, the Courier Mail reported.
The father and one-year-old son were found at a Beenleigh address about 90minutes after the incident.
The father was taken into custody and charged with a related offence and will front court on Monday. The one-year-old was taken to hospital for observation.
The one-year-old remained in hospital on Saturday, but was not believed to have been injured. His parents were medically discharged before his father was taken into custody.
Detective Acting Superintendent Mark Mooney said police were looking into any possible domestic violence links.
The father has been charged with a related offence and will face court on Monday, police said
‘There is currently a temporary protection order in place that police took out in June 2024 and that order is still current. The female was the aggrieved,’ Supt Mooney said.
‘Further enquiries and investigations are continuing into any other serious crimes that may be alleged, and trying to work out exactly what caused the three-year-old’s death.
‘My understanding is the toddler was unresponsive upon arrival (at the police station).
‘He was in a bad medical way prior to arrival at the police station and as soon as he arrived, police immediately commenced CPR.
‘The mother had called Triple 0 prior to her arrival. The three-year-old has sustained a head injury which has caused his death, I understand.’
Supt Mooney said the mother and the two children had been living on the Gold Coast, while the father was living at Beenleigh.
He said the mother had driven to a property on Coral Street in Beenleigh where an associate of the father lived. The white Mazda left at about 4.50am before it crashed ten minutes later.
The bystander who witnessed the crash had been driving behind the Mazda and drove the mother and her three-year-old boy to the police station at her request.
The beloved toddler died in the foyer of Beenleigh Police Station on Saturday (pictured)
Asked why the child was taken to the police station, Supt Mooney said it was at the mother’s request and ‘probably because it’s the closest available facility’.
He praised the efforts of first responders and emergency services.
Health Minister Tim Nicholls shared his condolences following the crash.
‘I simply want to reinforce our heartfelt sympathies to those associated with the families who were involved in this morning’s terrible incidents, and my thanks to the first responders for the terrific and often unheralded work that they do that has a terrible impact on them and their loved ones as well,’ he said.
Queensland Premier David Crisafulli said the incident was deeply traumatic.
‘My reflection on that incident is how traumatic it is for every single individual,’ he told reporters on Sunday.
‘For family, for first responders who were there, for the people who drive past, for every Queenslander who wants to see vulnerable people protected.
‘They’re the kinds of incidents that rock at the core of a state.’
Police are continuing to investigate.
