UPDATE – September 24: Brisbane Waters police confirm to Global News that the body found was that of Allyson McConnell. The autopsy results have not been released.
EDMONTON – Allyson McConnell’s lawyer, Peter Royal, says there “seems to be no doubt” that the body recovered under a bridge in Australia’s Central Coast is his client’s.
McConnell was deported to her native Australia in April after serving 10 months in a psychiatric hospital for the 2010 drowning deaths of her two boys, 10-month-old Jayden and 2-year-old Connor. Her initial sentence was six years, but she was given credit for pretrial custody.
The judge in the case had ruled there was little evidence of whether the depressed and suicidal McConnell meant to kill her boys.
The day her boys were found lifeless in a bathtub at their Millet home by their father, McConnell jumped off an overpass in Edmonton, ending up in hospital.
During her trial, court heard McConnell had a history of depression and suicide attempts that began when her father got her pregnant when she was 15. She was under constant suicide watch while in custody in Alberta.
Royal reveals McConnell was seeing a doctor on a regular basis in Australia, where she was living with her mother in Gosford – about 70 kilometres north of Sydney. He says he’s been in contact with the mother, speaking to her as recently as Wednesday morning (Alberta time).
Get daily National news
According to what McConnell’s mother has reportedly told him, the Alberta Crown’s upcoming appeal of McConnell’s manslaughter conviction and sentence – scheduled for October 30 – was causing his client distress.
McConnell’s mother also apparently told Royal that her daughter had become emotional and despondent after attending the christening of a friend’s new baby recently.
“I guess it brought back thoughts of her own children’s christenings.”
Royal calls it a “sad case all around,” with no winners.
Alberta Justice Minister Jonathan Denis told Global News on Wednesday: “If this is indeed Ms. McConnell, then it marks a disturbing end to what has been a very tragic situation and is certainly not the outcome anyone wished for.”
Police in Australia confirm McConnell was reported missing late Tuesday night. While they cannot formally announce the identity of the woman found, they say that next of kin of whom they believe it to be has been notified.
More details are expected Friday.
The family of her former husband Curtis McConnell, who tried to fight her deportation, had the following to say after hearing about the discovery in Gosford:
“Our thoughts are with Allyson’s family and we send our condolences.”
Meanwhile, the town of Millet – where the family once lived together – has released the following statement:
“The town hopes that in the light of the recent news of Allyson McConnell, that the family and the town as a whole can receive some types of closure. Nothing will bring these little boys back, but an end to this chapter may eventually bring some peace to all that were affected.”
Millet resident Vivian Holtby lives next door to the former couple’s home. She says she regularly thinks about what happened there, and was saddened to her the news of McConnell’s apparent death.
“My heart just ached for her, and ached for her family,” Holtby says. “All I pray is that Curtis and his family and her family can heal from the pain.”
She’s also been praying for McConnell, and her two sons.
“That they’re at peace and they are in heaven – they look down and see their dad now, their mom will be there with them, I pray.”
With files from Laurel Clark, Global News and The Canadian Press
Comments