Lead detective issues plea for information into Albany death, revealing victim and suspect are mother and son

A homicide squad detective has provided a major update on a “complex” Albany murder investigation as police hunt for more clues regarding the circumstances that left an elderly woman dead and her 50-year-old son — a suspect in her death — in an induced coma. Speaking to the media outside the Albany police station on Friday afternoon, Det-Sen. Sgt Steve Cleal revealed several key facts, including confirmation that the dead woman and injured man are mother and son. He said that on Sunday February 8, a person known to the family arrived at the Burville Street unit in Spencer Park where the pair lived together, and reported the tragedy to a neighbour, who called triple-0 at 3.10pm. Police rushed to the scene to find the woman dead. They then arrested her 50-year-old son at the unit, who had also sustained life-threatening injuries. He was later taken by police to Albany Health Campus, then flown by Royal Flying Doctor Service at 6pm to Perth, arriving at Royal Perth Hospital at 9.15pm as a priority one patient. Though he could not detail the nature of the man’s injuries, Det-Sen. Sgt Cleal revealed he had been placed in an induced coma several days ago and remained in a critical condition in the RPH intensive care unit. Det-Sen. Sgt Cleal confirmed the man was still a suspect despite not yet being formally interviewed due to his medical status, and that police were keeping an open mind regarding other involvement. “We are keeping all options open,” he said. “I’m very mindful that we don’t get tunnel vision here. We’re not going to miss anything. We’re not going to be making assumptions as to what’s happened. “We are trying to piece together the truth of it, and it’s a slow grind, but, we’re getting through it.” Police did not reveal the cause of the woman’s death nor how her son came to be critically injured, but that they were undertaking a “very exhaustive and thorough” investigation. “The complexity of this is that we’ve not been able to speak to the man who was inside the house as well,” he said. “So we don’t know the circumstances at this stage, or we’re investigating those circumstances as to what caused her death and his serious injuries. “At this point, we are open to anything. The detective said the cause of the woman’s death would be determined following the results of pathology tests and a post-mortem examination, but said there was “always a level of violence” in such situations. “But we are treating this as a suspicious death. There is no doubt about that,” he said. The major operation was in its sixth day on Friday as homicide squad detectives and forensics officers continued to comb the Burville Street unit, where on Thursday they removed dozens of bags of key evidence, including one marked “suspect clothing”. Sen. Sgt Cleal said the extensive investigation will continue indefinitely. “We’ve been there since Sunday, and forensic response is continuing there, and we’ll be there for many days — when I expect that to cease is very much unknown at this stage, depending on how much more work there is to do, but they’ve been very exhaustive and thorough,” he said. “They’re examining inside the house to try and piece together the circumstances of how this came to be, of the woman’s death and the man’s injuries. “There are a lot of exhibits, items, forensic items, that we have obtained from the house. “There is a lot we need to go through, and knowing the results of that analysis does take time, and so that is ongoing, and we are getting a lot of help from the scene, but we don’t get answers straight away when we seize things and do those forensic type examinations.” A large-scale team continues to investigate. “This is a priority not only for the district, but for the State,” Det-Sen. Sgt Cleal said. “The support from the executive back in Perth has been very much appreciated and very much on board, so resourcing is not an issue. “An elderly lady is deceased, a man has got serious injuries. This is a number one priority at the moment.” The update came with a plea for public assistance, with Det-Sen. Sgt Cleal imploring anyone who may have been in or around Burville Street on Saturday, February 7 or Sunday, February 8, to report any information to police. Detectives continue to door-knock homes within a 2km radius of the scene and are looking for CCTV footage from businesses or residents that may assist. “If anyone out there knows of anything regarding the circumstances of how this woman was killed, or how the the man sustained those serious injuries inside the house, I’m urging you to come forward and speak with police,” Det-Sen. Sgt Cleal said. “Please don’t assume that we we know the information that you have. “I promise all information will be investigated and assessed. “It may seem minor to someone, but maybe major to us.” Those with information can report it by attending the local police station or by advising Crime Stoppers, either online or calling 1800 333 000. CCTV, dash-cam or mobile phone footage can be uploaded directly to investigators via this link: https://wapf.au.evidence.com/axon/community-request/public/opyarl