Police: Toddler Suffered Horrific Injuries A Week Prior to His Death

Police have confirmed that a toddler who was found dead north of Brisbane last month had suffered trauma injuries a week prior to his death.

Queensland Police revealed on Monday that the 21-month old boy, identified as Mason Lee, who was found dead in the house of his stepfather, Andrew O’Sullivan, shortly after 12.30am in Deanne Court in Caboolture, Queensland, on June 11, was murdered and had suffered ‘horrific, head-to-toe injuries’ when he was found in his bed by paramedics.

Police also said that the boy’s death is now being treated as a murder, and that they believed injuries found all over his body were deliberate and some had been there since January.

On Monday, Moreton District Crime Group Detective Acting Inspector Ben Fadian said Mason’s death was not likely to have been an accident and that he was dead for ‘hours’ even before triple 0 calls were made.

“He suffered extensive injuries, they were horrific and they were visible from head to toe…While we are awaiting a pathology report we can say Mason may have been sick or injured for up to a week before he died…Some of his injuries would have included him being lethargic, vomiting, not eating his food and general unwellness,” he said.

He also said that there’s evidence to indicate that Mason began to sustain his injuries this year. “We’re appealing to anyone who may have interacted with Mason between January 1 and June 11 this year, anyone who may have interacted with his carers, who has come into contact with him,” he said.

He added that they can’t say specifically what time Mason died, but there were a number of people inside the house, including children.

The child’s mother, Ann-Maree Lee, was at a house only a kilometre away when Mason was found dead and had not been looking after him on the day he died. Now, she told 7News she wants answers and justice for her young son. “It hurts so bad, that I just, I can’t understand it,” she said.

Mr O’Sullivan was detained and questioned last month and released without charge. He said he tried to perform CPR on the child after finding him ‘blue’ and unresponsive in his bed.

Officers from the Child Trauma Task Force and the Homicide Investigation Unit have joined the investigation into the death of Mason.

Sources: Dailymail.co.uk, Au.news.yahoo.com, 9news.com.au and Abc.net.au