Leeton car crash: Families at war over the death of Tania Murphy and three children in Yanco

A family feud has erupted over the death of a mother and three children in a shocking accident, with the family turning on each other on social media.

Mum-of-six Tania Murphy, 36, was driving a hatchback down a road near her home in Yanco, near Leeton in southern NSW, at 11.15pm on Tuesday with her sons Nathaniel, 11, Jeremiah, 10, and the boy from 12-year-old cousin, Malakai Murphy.

The Hyundai Getz hit a telegraph pole before rolling off an embankment and landing upside down. All four were dead when emergency services arrived.

On Wednesday, Murphy’s friend Dean Ingram, 32, and his mother Wendy Chattaway, 50, were arrested as part of police inquiries into the fatal accident.

Mrs. Chattaway has since been released without charge, but Mr. Ingram is accused of kicking in the back door of Mrs. Murphy’s house shortly before the tragedy.

He was charged with two counts of stalking with intent to harm, and one count of aggravated burglary. He was denied bail on Thursday to appear in Griffith local court.

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

The fourth victim of the crash was Tania Murphy’s cousin Malakai Murphy, 12 (pictured)

Nathaniel (left) and his brother Jeremiah (right) died Tuesday night with their mother, Tania Murphy, and her cousin Malakai Murphy

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.

Mr. Ingram’s aunt, Leonie Kawelmacher, wrote an online message of support for sister Ms. Chattaway, saying “Love U Wendy woo we got this I f***ing hope” (pictured)

In the wake of the arrests, relatives of Ms Murphy and Mr Ingram began turning on each other in a series of inflammatory social media posts (pictured)

“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).’

On Wednesday night, Murphy’s friend Dean Ingram (pictured), 32, and his mother Wendy Chattaway, 50, were arrested as part of the investigation into the fatal accident.

His mother Wendy Chattaway, 50, was also arrested. She was released without charge

“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.”

Rescue workers at the scene of the tragic accident near Leeton on Tuesday that killed a mother and three boys