A young woman who grew up in Lara has been released without charge after her 47-year-old boyfriend allegedly sacrificed their baby to the sea.
Tweed Heads Chief Inspector Mick Dempsey confirmed to the Indy yesterday police had released Jacqui Mendes, 23, without charge.
Police charged Ms Mendes’ 47-year-old boyfriend with murder after a passer-by found the washed-up corpse of her nine-month-old girl at a Surfers Paradise beach about 12.30am local time on Monday.
Homicide detectives and Tweed Byron Police District, with the assistance of Queensland specialist detectives, established Strike Force Palua to investigate the girl’s death.
Queensland police interviewed the pair before arresting the child’s father.
He faced an extradition hearing in Southport Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday wearing a white hospital gown, The Australian reported.
The court heard he was a violent schizophrenic with a long list of offences including assault occasioning bodily harm.
Police expedited the man, after determining the baby died in NSW, and he was due to appear in Tweed Heads Local Court yesterday.
Ms Mendes grew up in Lara and graduated from Clonard College Geelong in 2013.
The gifted student was a sport captain, participating in various school teams, and won a singing talent quest, according to college newsletters.
Ms Mendes began studying a bachelor of psychological science Deakin University, according to her Facebook profile.
She met the baby’s father in Victoria and they moved to Mackay, Queensland, before moving on, The Australian reported.
The homeless couple and their baby had been living in parks across Gold Coast.
The father is a member of a large Torres Strait Islander family, has schizophrenia and was on a disability pension.
Police were trying to determine whether the he sacrificed his baby by throwing her into the sea, according to various media reports this week.
The baby’s father was understood to have told police he believed the girl was possessed by demons.
Chief Insp Dempsey declined to confirm or deny the reports while the case was before court.
“I can’t comment on that,” he said.
Police alleged the baby was murdered between 6.45pm last Saturday and 5am last Sunday.
They urged anyone with information that may assist Strike Force Palua detectives to phone Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
