The family of a great-grandmother who was fatally stabbed during a carjacking are struggling to understand why she was allegedly attacked – because she handed the alleged knifeman her keys.
Vyleen White, 70, was allegedly murdered in front of her six-year-old granddaughter in the Redbank Plains Town Square car park, south-west Brisbane, at 6.10pm on Saturday.
She was buying snacks for a Bible study session later that evening.
Police have released CCTV footage of four teenagers dumping Ms White’s blue Hyundai Getz on a street in nearby Springfield Lakes about 20 minutes after the alleged stabbing.
So far, five teenage boys have been arrested: three 16-year-olds and two 15-year-olds.
One person has been charged with unlawful use of a motor vehicle and was denied bail on Monday. The other four assist the police with investigations.
Mrs White’s husband Victor, who is blind and relies heavily on her for support, broke his silence to Daily Mail Australia on Monday afternoon.
He revealed that his wife jokingly said, “If I go, no one will miss me.”
Vyleen White will celebrate her 70th birthday at her family’s home in June
Pictured: Vyleen White’s husband Victor with their daughter Cindy on Monday afternoon
“If only she knew what was going on right now,” he said, referring to the outpouring of love and support his family has received following his wife’s tragic death.
One of their three daughters, Julie Ryan, struggled to understand how someone could hurt her mother, especially because she cooperated when confronted by the alleged attacker.
“She was a small, fragile woman,” Ms. Ryan said.
“She handed over the keys. They took her purse, wallet and nothing, so why did they have to (allegedly) kill her?”
Ms Ryan’s young daughter was with Ms White at the time of the alleged attack.
In a cruel twist of fate, she said her mother had only recently returned to the road after losing the ability to drive due to arthritis in her shoulders.
Her trip to the shops on Saturday was the fourth time she had been behind the wheel in weeks.
Ms White’s grandson Joseph said: ‘She allegedly asked her (alleged) attacker: ‘What do you need?’ Can I pray for you?’
Her family remembered her as a loving mother who did everything she could to make people feel special.
Vyleen White’s family is devastated by Saturday’s tragedy. The photo shows her husband Victor, second from the left, with his daughter Cindy and three of her grandchildren
Vyleen White is pictured with her husband Victor. They met while working in a broom factory in the 1970s
Ms Ryan said she was overwhelmed when her mother presented her with a milkshake glass with Hawaiian motifs for her most recent birthday, to match the Hawaiian-themed party thrown for her.
“It just meant so much that she went so far to find that thing because that was such a milestone birthday,” Ms. Ryan said.
“And she was; she just did things to go the extra mile.”
Husband Victor said they met while working together at a broom factory in the 1970s.
They married and had three daughters: Cindy, Danice and Julie.
The couple was due to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary in September.
Ms Ryan, her partner and their six-year-old daughter have been living with her parents while they tried to save for their own home.
During that time, Mrs. White and her six-year-old granddaughter built a special bond: eating breakfast together, having playdates, visiting neighbors and spending time drawing.
Mrs Ryan said one of the hardest parts of the tragedy was that her daughter had lost her ‘best friend’.
Police have released CCTV footage of four young men with Ms White’s Hyundai Getz (pictured)
Shattered locals paid tribute to Ms White at the shopping center on Monday
“And now she’s going to miss it all,” she said.
‘And she had to witness everything. How do you help your child get through that?’
Although the family welcomed news of the arrests, they fear Ms White will not get the justice she deserves.
They are calling on the government to take action by imposing stronger deterrents and punishments on youth offenders.
‘It doesn’t matter how old you are. “If you kill someone you have to pay the ultimate price,” Mr White said.
The family hopes Mrs White will not be remembered for her death, but for the impact she had on those around her.
Her daughter Cindy Micallef said she hopes the community will honor her mother’s legacy by continuing the kindness she spread during her life.
“You don’t know when someone is having a bad day,” she said.
“A kind word can make their day.”
The family begins to make plans for Mrs. White’s funeral.