Heartwrenching detail at funeral of mother and baby in Rockhampton allegedly murdered by husband
In a final heartbreaking display of unity, allegedly murdered Rockhampton mother Tayla Cox and daughter Murphy Margaret were said goodbye in a single coffin at their funeral service.
Tayla, 30, and 11-week-old Murphy were buried together after their husband and father Mathew Cox allegedly killed them nearly three weeks ago on Aug. 8.
Hundreds of mourners gathered at Rockhampton Baptist Church to say goodbye, as heartbroken friends and family paid tribute after their senseless death.
A memorial booklet filled with sweet photos of the couple read, “We love you every day of your life and we will miss you for the rest of our lives.”
The funeral announcement for the mother and daughter described them as “precious and dearly loved” by their devastated family and friends.
It also described a special bond between Mrs. Cox and Murphy Margaret.
Heartbroken family and friends gathered on Friday to say goodbye to Rockhampton mother and daughter Tayla Cox and Murphy Margaret (pictured is the front cover of the memorial booklet)
Rockhampton mother Tayla Cox and daughter Murphy Margaret said goodbye in one coffin during their funeral service (pictured)
Tayla Cox (right), 30, and her baby daughter Murphy (centre) were found dead at their home in Rockhampton on Thursday. Her husband, Matthew (left), has been charged with their murders
Hundreds of mourners gathered at Rockhampton Baptist Church to say goodbye, as heartbroken friends and family paid tribute after their senseless deaths
The single white coffin arrives at Rockhampton Baptist Church on Friday
The pair had met while working together at Flight Center and started dating in 2015.
They got engaged in November 2018 and married in May 2021 on the Gold Coast.
Police initially visited the Rockhampton home for a welfare check after Cox visited the Fortitude Valley police station on August 10.
He allegedly drove to Rockhampton Airport in his wife’s white MG SUV and flew to Brisbane, where he spent two nights at the Constance Fortitude Valley hotel.
Mrs Cox and her daughter were later found dead at their home in Rockhampton.
Cox was charged with two counts of murder the night he turned himself in.
Police said there was no previous history of domestic violence between the couple, as Cox’s heartbroken parents broke their silence over the tragedy.
Cox’s parents, Denis and Linda Lind, released a statement earlier this month.
“We have lost a beautiful daughter-in-law Tayla, as well as our beloved granddaughter Murphy,” the couple wrote.
“At this stage we have very few other details and we are in an absolute state of shock.”
“We ask that the media respect our privacy as we grieve and try to process what happened.”
Proud grandmother Linda (right) recently shared a photo posing with her son Matthew Cox (left) and his baby daughter Murphy
A commemorative booklet was filled with photos of the presumed murdered mother and daughter
The funeral announcement for the couple (pictured) described them as ‘precious and much loved’ by their devastated family and friends
Matthew and Tayla Cox (pictured during her pregnancy) lived in Victoria before moving back to Rockhampton after buying their home in November 2022
His cases were first raised in Brisbane Magistrates Court on Monday. He did not appear in court and remains behind bars at Brisbane Correctional Centre.
Cox was ordered to reappear on October 30 with a brief statement of evidence to be delivered by October 9.
Police will allege that Cox stayed in an apartment complex on Constance Street in the Fortitude Valley before turning himself in to police two days after the alleged murder.
After police visited the house in Rockhampton, a crime scene was set up and multiple police, forensic and science officers visited the property over the next few days, searching every surface of the house.
Mrs Cox, maiden name Black, grew up in Rockhampton and attended St Ursula’s College in nearby Yeppoon.
She was a repair coordinator for a construction company in Berserker, a suburb of Rockhampton. At the time of her death she was on maternity leave.
“Always be nice,” her Facebook bio says.
She and Cox lived in Victoria for some time during their relationship and, according to his Facebook, had been together for nearly eight years.
They moved back to Rockhampton after purchasing their three-bedroom home on Park Avenue in November 2022.
The move came when Cox got a job at a local radio station while his wife was on Facebook celebrating the purchase of their new home.
“New chapter, can’t wait to make so many great memories with our beautiful little family,” Ms. Cox wrote.
In February, she shared a happy photo of her husband rocking her baby bump while enjoying a break on Great Keppel Island.
“We can’t wait to meet you,” she wrote.