Rockhampton ‘murders’: Tayla Cox and baby Murphy smile with Matthew James Cox weeks before deaths
The sister of a young mother allegedly killed by her husband, along with their 11-week-old daughter, is in “utter shock” over the tragedy.
Police discovered the bodies of Tayla Cox, 30, and baby Murphy Margaret at their home on Bean Street in Rockhampton, central Queensland, last Thursday – two days after Matthew James Cox, 31, allegedly killed them.
Detectives believe Mr Cox flew to Brisbane last Tuesday and spent two nights at the Constance Fortitude Valley hotel – which would have cost more than $800 – before walking into a police station and turning himself in.
He was charged with two counts of murder and no bail had been requested when the case came before the Brisbane Magistrate’s Court on Friday.
While the cause of death has not been confirmed, Detective Darrin Shadlow said the alleged victims had cuts to their bodies and “there was a large amount of blood at the scene.”
On Thursday, a week after their remains were discovered, Ms Cox’s sister, Casie Black, told Daily Mail Australia: ‘I am in total shock.’
Pictured: Tayla Cox, her husband Matthew and their daughter Murphy, with his stepfather Aaron Lind and mother Linda Lind. They stand in front of a piece of art that Mrs. Cox painted
Murphy Margaret Cox is photographed a few months after she was born. Last week, her father allegedly killed her and her mother
Two months before the alleged murders, Mr Cox’s stepfather wished Mrs Cox a happy 30th birthday
Just eight weeks before her death, Mr Cox’s stepfather, Aaron Lind, penned a heartfelt social media post to wish the new mother a happy 30th birthday.
“A big happy 30th birthday to my beautiful daughter-in-law Tayla Cox and new mother,” he wrote on June 22.
‘Enjoy your day and let yourself be pampered. Some classic photos that needed to be shared on your big day.”
He jokingly shared a series of unflattering photos, to which Ms Cox replied: ‘That second photo is the nastiest thing I’ve ever seen’, alongside a series of laughing emojis.
Mr. Lind has also uploaded pictures over the years of the family laughing together at events – at the pub watching the AFL, while travelling, and just after Murphy was born.
Last month, Mr. Cox’s mom, Linda Lind, shared photos of baby Murphy on Instagram with the caption, “Our hearts are so full of love.”
Quality time with family and our beautiful sweet granddaughter. Total bliss.’
Pictured, left to right and back to front: Matthew and Tayla Cox, his mother Linda Lind and stepfather Aaron Lind
The once-happy family also went to the pub together to watch AFL (pictured)
Last week, Mr Cox’s mother and biological father released a statement saying they were ‘devastated by the news’.
“We have lost a beautiful daughter-in-law Tayla, as well as our much-loved granddaughter Murphy,” Denis Cox and Ms. Lind wrote.
“At this stage we have very few other details and are in an absolute state of shock.”
On Tuesday night, the council paid tribute to the mother and baby by shining a pink light on the Rockhampton Customs House on the high street.
Ms Cox’s sister shared a photo of the tribute, with the caption ‘always and forever in my heart’.
Police have confirmed that there was no known history of domestic violence within the relationship.
However, Queensland Health Minister Shannon Fentiman said on Friday that Mr Cox was treated as an inpatient for mental health problems at Rockhampton Hospital about a year ago.
The young couple is said to have met when they worked at Flight Center in 2021, and announced their relationship on Facebook at the time.
They previously lived in Victoria, where he grew up, but moved to Rockhampton last November when he took a job as a TV account manager at Southern Cross Austereo.
Police identified a crime scene at the Bean Street property on Thursday (pictured)
Neighbors came to the scene last week to pay tribute to the mother and daughter (pictured)
Mrs Cox had proudly posted on Facebook the news that they had bought the Bean Street house.
“New chapter, can’t wait to make so many amazing memories with our beautiful little family,” she wrote.
Three months later, 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.
Detective Darrin Shadlow last week described the scene as “confrontational.”
“There was a large amount of blood,” he said.
It is understood that police used luminol – a chemical capable of detecting minute traces of blood – in the property’s bathroom.
Detectives spent days searching the property, including searching bins and mailboxes.
A second crime scene was established in an apartment in the hotel where Mr. Cox was staying before turning himself in, and police impounded the car he was driving in Fortitude Valley.
Mr Cox’s case will return to court on August 21.
Detectives spent days investigating the crime scene and collecting bags of evidence (pictured)