Video has been seized by police outside a property where a mother and her newborn were allegedly murdered as it emerged the accused killer father was previously engaged.
Tayla Cox, 30, and her 11-week-old daughter Murphy were found dead in their Rockhampton home in central Queensland by police late on Thursday morning.
The ‘confronting” discovery came after Matthew Cox, Tayla’s husband and the baby’s father, had flown to Brisbane where he handed himself into a local police station.
Police believe the mother and daughter died on Tuesday afternoon.
Matthew Cox (left), 31, was charged with the murder of his wife Tayla (right), 30, and their 11-week-old daughter Murphy on Thursday afternoon
Forensic officers have removed a sim card from a CCTV camera at the front of the property
Distraught Rockhampton locals have left flowers and teddy bears at the scene of the tragedy
Now Daily Mail Australia can reveal forensic officers have removed a sim card from a CCTV camera at the front of the property.
Police have spent the last three days combing the alleged crime scene, and on Saturday were seen examining the property’s rubbish bins and its letter box.
While it is unclear how the mother and her baby met their tragic end, it is understood the police have removed an alleged weapon from the home.
Detective Superintendent Darrin Shadlow told media on Thursday the mother and baby had lacerations to their body.
‘I will say that it was quite a confronting scene,’ he said, according to the ABC.
Mr Cox poses next to his baby daughter in a newly-unearthed picture, taken just three weeks before her alleged murder
‘There was a large amount of blood.’
It is also believed police have been using luminol – a chemical substance capable of detecting minute traces of blood – in the property’s bathroom.
On Friday, it was revealed that Mr Cox had sought mental health treatment at Rockhampton hospital over a year ago.
Daily Mail Australia understands that Mr Cox was previously engaged to be married to another woman.
Mr Cox and his former fiance, who was also from Rockhampton, were due to get married in the October of 2015 but the wedding was mysteriously called off just weeks before.
In December 2015, Mr Cox and Tayla announced their relationship to friends and family on Facebook. It is understood they met while working at Flight Centre and were married in 2021.
There is no suggestion there was any crossover in the relationships.
It comes as new photos have emerged of Mr Cox smiling alongside his newborn daughter just three weeks before he allegedly killed her.
Other pictures show the new parents posing alongside delighted family members cradling the new addition to the family.
Tayla is the forty-third Australian woman and Murphy Margaret the tenth child killed in Australia this year.
Mourners left teddy bears inscribed with messages to the innocent victims outside the house
Forensic officers removed items from the house for the third day in a row
A steady stream of devastated locals arrived at the quiet cul-de-sac in the country town on Saturday to lay flowers and teddy bears.
Local Councillor Donna Kirkland, who laid a bouquet of flowers, said Ms Cox’s family were ‘beautiful people’ well-known in the community.
‘It’s a reminder to ask people: “are you okay? How are you coping?”,’ she said.
‘New mums with little babies go through a lot and sometimes it is a very lonely space when it is you first child.’
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Matthew and Tayla Cox pictured together
Their home is now an alleged crime scene – and the site floral tributes for the dead mother and child
Neighbour Cherie Stickley, 43, who, has lived in the street her entire life, said the police asked her if she had seen or heard anything on Tuesday but said it had appeared an ordinary day.
Although she did not know the couple, who had only moved in less than a year ago, she said the tragedy was a ‘total shock’.
‘It’s not something you’d expect, it’s always been such a quiet neighborhood,’ she said.
‘You hear about things like this in the news but you assume it would be in Brisbane and the big cities – not three doors down,’ she added.
Grandparents Allister and Katrina Clein attended the scene with their three granddaughters to lay teddy bears.
‘It is just so tragic for something like this to happen to an innocent mother and child,’ said Mr Clein.
Mr and Ms Cox announced their relationship on Facebook in December 2015
Matthew Cox (left) will appear in a Brisbane court on Friday over the deaths of his wife (right) and their baby. Pictured are the couple in happier times
Mr Cox and his wife lived for a while in Victoria, where he grew up, but they moved back to Rockhampton in November 2022 when he landed a job as a TV account manager at media firm Southern Cross Austereo.
At the time, Ms Cox announced on Facebook her joy at buying a home together.
‘New chapter, can’t wait to make so many amazing memories with our beautiful little family,’ Tayla wrote.
Police claim Mr Cox allegedly murdered his young family on the afternoon of August 8 and flew to Brisbane that night where he stayed in the four-star Constance Hotel Fortitude Valley.
Tw days later he handed himself in the local police station, with police rushing round to their Rockhampton to make the grim discovery.
In the wake of her tragic death, Tayla has been praised for her ‘vivacious spirit and positive attitude’ by her former school, St Ursula’s College in Yeppon.
‘During her time at the College, Tayla was a beacon of hope, joy, and love, and had such a positive impact on others in the broader community,’ said school principal Deborah Ryan.
A steady stream of devastated locals arrived at the quiet cul-de-sac in the country town on Saturday to pay their respects
Forensic investigations continued for the third day since the horrifying discovery
The young mother, who also ran an art page, was described as the ‘Rockhampton Miley Cyrus’ by friend Rachel Titmarsh.
‘My favourite memories with Tayla were singing karaoke. Oh the days… May they both rest in peace,’ she wrote.
Rockhampton Mayor Tony Williams said he had a ‘heavy heart’ over the tragedy.
‘I’ve got a personal relationship with the family and I know how hard (it) is for the family at this time,’ he said.
On Friday, Daily Mail Australia revealed Mr Cox is the son of a high-flying executive once described as the ‘King of Beef’ in Rockhampton, Australia’s beef capital.
Mr Cox’s case has been adjourned until August 21.
In a statement, Mr Cox’s parents said they were devastated by the news.
‘We have lost a beautiful daughter-in-law Tayla, but also our much loved granddaughter Murphy,’ the statement said.
‘At this stage we have very few other details and are in an absolute state of shock.’
