Drew Douglas: Moment mum-of-four’s body is carried from her St Marys home where she was stabbing to death – as tragic police mistake and a man is charged
The body of a mother of four stabbed to death in her home has been removed by police as a man is charged with murder.
Drew Douglas’s body was discovered just before 4pm on Wednesday at a house in St Marys, western Sydney, and taken on a stretcher to an emergency vehicle with a tarpaulin used to protect her remains.
The covering afforded Mrs. Douglas a protection in death she had not had in her final, tragic hours.
It has emerged that police received a ‘worship concern’ call from a man at a home at 8:40 p.m. on Tuesday night, but emergency services did not arrive at the home until 10 hours later.
While the 31-year-old’s body was being taken away for an autopsy, police officers continued to remove bags of evidence from the home and talk to neighbours.
The body of a mother of four who was stabbed to death in western Sydney has been removed from the home where she was killed (pictured)
Drew Douglas’s body was taken from the suburban home, 30 miles from Sydney’s CBD, to an emergency services vehicle, with a tarpaulin (pictured) used to protect her remains
The covering (pictured) provided Mrs. Douglas with a protection in death that she did not have in her final, tragic hours
Her remains were taken from her home in St Marys in western Sydney on a stretcher (pictured)
Drew Douglas (pictured) gave birth to her fourth child just a month ago
At about 6:45 a.m. on Wednesday, another triple-0 call was made from the home on Edmondson Avenue, 30 miles from Sydney’s CBD.
When officers finally arrived, Mrs. Douglas was found with stab wounds to her chest.
The mother, who had given birth just a month ago, tragically died on the spot despite desperate efforts by paramedics to resuscitate her.
“About 45 minutes later, a 35-year-old St Marys man was arrested at Campbelltown police station and taken into custody,” NSW police said.
“The man has now been charged with one murder; he has been denied bail to appear in Campbelltown local court tomorrow (Thursday, August 17, 2023).’
When Mrs Douglas’s body was taken away for an autopsy, police officers interviewed neighbors (pictured)
A crime scene detective wearing a full suit is pictured taking a bag of evidence from the house
Police officers are photographed outside the house in St Marys in western Sydney on Wednesday
Police officers are pictured at the scene on Edmondson Avenue in St Marys
A police emergency vehicle and detectives are pictured at the scene where a woman was stabbed to death
A critical incidents team has been set up to investigate why there was a 10 hour delay in attending the residence.
“There is certainly a history of police involvement with these two people,” NSW Assistant Commissioner Leanne McCusker told reporters.
“The circumstances of why there was no turnout and the timeline from last night to this morning are part of the critical incident investigation,” she said.
However, Assistant Commissioner McCusker said in the original phone call that he was “not aware of any threat of violence.”
She also indicated that Wednesday morning’s triple-0 call may have been made by one of the couple’s children.
“I don’t believe it was (made) by the victim, but by other members in the house,” Assistant Commissioner McCusker said.
She added that there are currently no arrest warrants for violence in effect or charges pending.
The mother of four, Drew Douglas, was allegedly stabbed to death at her home in St. Mary’s
Forensic investigators arrived at the home that was still a crime scene on Wednesday
Mrs. Douglas had four children aged 12, 11, one and a four week old baby.
Her age has yet to be confirmed, but is believed to be in her thirties.
Her heartbroken sister Jade took to social media to pay tribute.
“It’s not fair to tear a family apart, I’ll never understand how someone could do such a bad thing. I am broken shattered and numb. My family doesn’t deserve this, my sister didn’t deserve this,” Jade Douglas wrote.
She later added, “I love you, sissy.”
Her sister’s death sparked an outpouring of tributes.
‘My heart is broken. I will never be able to talk to my best friend again,” one friend commented.
Forensic investigators were seen photographing a car parked in the home’s driveway
Homicide detectives (pictured at home) have launched an investigation into the death of Drew Douglas
A neighbor described the incident as “all just very shocking.”
“It’s not what you would expect,” the resident told Daily Mail Australia. “Drew was a nice lady.”
Neighbor Ross Windley, 61, who has lived on the street for 60 years, said the incident was “absolutely devastating – just awful.”
“This morning around a quarter to seven I was awakened by a couple of ambos running down the street, followed by a couple of police cars,” he said.
“It was a hive of police activity. They cordoned off the whole street and then a female detective came and asked if I had any cameras, which I didn’t.’
Mr Windley said he initially saw police driving to another address ‘on the other side of the street where the police frequent’.
“I think that’s what happened this morning, they instinctively went down when they first rocked up because they’ve been there so many times, but then they just screamed right back up,” he said.
Mr. Windley said he did not know the couple but had seen their children playing in the street.
He said he thought the young family lived with an older couple.
Shocked neighbors describe the woman as the “nicest person ever.” The photo shows the police standing outside the home on Edmondson Avenue
The house on Edmondson Avenue remained a crime scene Wednesday night as homicide detectives launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding Ms. Douglas’ death.
Forensic officers were seen photographing the house and scouring the crime scene for possible evidence.
A critical incident team investigates all other circumstances surrounding the incident, which are subject to independent review.
1800RESPECT
The death of mother-of-four Drew Douglas has shocked neighbors on St Marys Street
Police spent the afternoon combing the street and adjacent yards for any evidence
A mother of four has died after allegedly stabbing at a home in western Sydney