Car crash in Leeton: Tania Murphy’s boyfriend allegedly threatened her before four fatalities

The friend of a mother who died in a horror crash along with her two sons and cousin is said to have broken into her home with a mysterious man and threatened her and a child — not even six minutes before she died.

Tania Murphy, 36, was driving along Research Road in Yanco, near Leeton in southern NSW, when her car crashed into a telegraph pole at about 11:15 p.m. Thursday.

The mother of six had Nathaniel, 11, Jeremiah, 10, and her 12-year-old nephew Malakai Murphy in the car when it went off the road, hit the post and rolled into an embankment.

Emergency services and paramedics rushed to the crime scene where they found the Hyundai Getz hatchback upside down and all four occupants dead.

Murphy’s partner Dean Cluney, 32, who also goes by the surname Ingram, was charged on Wednesday with a series of domestic violence offenses by detectives investigating the quadruple fatality.

Police will allege that sometime in the 10 minutes before she crashed her car 2 miles away, Cluney committed domestic violence at Mrs. Murphy’s home.

Court documents obtained by Daily Mail Australia show that police will allege that Cluney kicked in the back door of Ms Murphy’s home between 11:09 pm and 11:20 pm on Tuesday and entered the premises with another man.

Cluney is then charged with stalking or attempted harassment of Mrs. Murphy and a young girl, believed to be a child.

The second man named in court documents as involved in the alleged burglary has not been charged.

Cluney did not appear at Griffith local court on Wednesday and was instead represented by his lawyer, who requested that the case be postponed until June.

The 32-year-old was arrested on Wednesday as part of a police investigation into the fatal accident.

Police charged him with two counts of stalking with intent to harm, and one count of aggravated burglary.

Cluney’s mother Wendy Chattaway, 50, was also arrested as part of a police investigation into the crash but has since been released without charge.

Good friend Tania Ingram remembered Mrs. Murphy and the boys as “four shining stars” on Thursday afternoon.

“I can still hear her infectious laugh – she just made you happy just by being around her,” Ms Ingram wrote.

She just didn’t realize she deserved more and could do so much better than she had. What a sad, tragic loss. We struggle with the loss of such a beautiful woman and those beautiful, cheeky boys.’

Another friend said the impact of the four deaths would affect the community “for a very long time.”

“It’s just such devastation to so many people and for what? Like, why? It’s just not necessary,” they wrote.

Someone else asked, “How does one bury a daughter and three grandchildren and stand?”

In the wake of the arrest, relatives of Ms. Murphy and Mr. Ingram have turned on each other in a series of explosive messages.

On Wednesday afternoon, before the charges were filed, Mr. Ingram’s aunt, Leonie Kawelmacher, wrote an online message of support to her sister, Ms. Chattaway, saying, “Love U Wendy woo we got this damn hope.”

She then deleted the post and was accused of this by Leki Jeann – relative of the deceased mother.

Ms Jeann posted screenshots of the now-deleted Facebook post, tagged Ms Kawelmacher and wrote: “Why delete [SIC] do you post Leonie? What, [you] thought no one had seen it, so will you delete it soon?’

She then accused Mrs. Kawelmacher of supporting Mr. Ingram, who allegedly stalked and intimidated Mrs. Murphy before she died.

But Ms Kawelmacher hit back at the allegation, withdrawing her support and saying she had no idea her sister was being questioned by police about the crash.

“I never knew what happened and once I knew what happened I immediately f***ed away from the c***s,” she wrote in the comments.

“I will attack the c***s [SIC] myself when they come near me.’

Ms Kawelmacher took to Facebook on Thursday morning to tell friends she had cut ties with Ms Chattaway and Mr Ingram.

“Just to clear things up, I had no idea of ​​the actual events that took place. I was there to support a friend…

“I am so deeply sorry for the confusion and all the damage I have caused, it was never my intention. I am forever respectful of my crowd and my deepest condolences go out to all family and friends. I can’t imagine the pain you feel.”

On Wednesday night, Ms. Kawelmacher was seen pacing back and forth at Griffith Police Station, waiting for Mr. Ingram’s release with his friends and family.

After Ms Ingram was charged on Wednesday, NSW Police released a statement: ‘Officers of the Murrumbidgee Police District have been informed that the back door of a house in Cudgel Street, Yanco, was reportedly kicked in and that a resident arrived shortly after Tuesday 11 p.m. was threatened (April 4, 2023).’

“About 15 minutes later, a vehicle traveling down Research Road went off the road and crashed, killing a 36-year-old woman and three boys, aged 10, 11 and 12.”

Police cordoned off Mrs Murphy’s home on Wednesday, which is owned by the Leeton and Districts Aboriginal Corporation.

Julieanne Abraham, Mrs. Murphy’s best friend, told her to tell the late woman’s nine-year-old daughter that her mother was dead.

“She’s been the best mother, best friend and best lady I’ve ever met,” said Mrs. Abraham.

“I didn’t talk to her until yesterday and I had to tell her daughter she wasn’t coming home.

“She was great, we had a lot of fun spending time together – the kids used to call me nanny – we were all one big family.”