A 53-year-old woman has been arrested after her 84-year-old mother was found dead at an aged care home in Sydney's outer west. Police allege the daughter administered an unknown substance to the victim.
Incident Details
Emergency services were called to Our Lady of Consolation aged care home in Rooty Hill around 11:35 pm on Thursday. Police officers discovered the body of an 84-year-old woman inside the building. The 53-year-old woman, identified as the daughter, was arrested at the scene and taken to Mount Druitt hospital for medical assessment.
Police Statement
Superintendent Darrin Batchelor told reporters on Friday: "What we believe at this stage is that the 53-year-old female allegedly administered a substance to the older woman. We don't know exactly what that substance is at the moment and whether it contributed to her passing last night." He noted the daughter has no criminal history or medical training and has been compliant with officers. "It's really too early to determine what the motivation is at the moment, whether it was an assisted dying scenario, we really don't know," Batchelor added.
Ongoing Investigation
The daughter has been transferred to a local police station and remains in custody. A nine-year-old boy was present during the incident but is now in the care of his family, according to Batchelor. A crime scene has been established, and forensic teams are collecting evidence. A toxicology and autopsy report is being prepared as the investigation continues.
