A young mother who was allegedly killed by her husband along with their newborn baby had previously spoken out about “creeps” and “weirdos” before they got married.
The bodies of Tayla Cox, 30, and her newborn daughter Murphy Margaret, 11 weeks, were discovered by police at their home in Rockhampton in central Queensland on Thursday morning.
Her husband, 31-year-old Matthew Cox, is due to appear in court on Friday on charges of murder.
He had flown out of Rockhampton on Tuesday evening before turning himself in at Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley police station around 11am on Thursday, prompting police to arrange a welfare check for his wife and daughter.
Tayla Cox (right), 30, and her baby daughter Murphy (centre) were found dead at their home in Rockhampton on Thursday. Her husband Matthew Cox (left) has been charged with murder
Proud grandma Linda (right) recently shared a photo of her posing with her son Matthew (left) and his baby daughter Murphy
Police discovered the two bodies in Rockhampton’s home during a welfare check
Police believe they died on Tuesday.
Ms. Cox, whose maiden name was Black, grew up in Rockhampton and, according to her LinkedIn, worked as a repair coordinator at Campbell Construction Co.
More than ten years ago, she appeared in her local newspaper and complained about the lack of suitable men in her area.
Ms Cox, then studying forensics at CQ University, complained of “creeps” and “crazy people” coming to Rockhampton from out of town to pick up girls.
“They’re not attractive at all and they’re goofballs. A lot of guys get really drunk and try to pick up girls all the time,” she told the Morning Bulletin.
Three years later, Ms. Cox and her future husband announced their relationship with friends and family on Facebook. How they first met is not clear.
“Finally you two!” a friend remarked, to which Mrs. Cox replied, “Better late than never.”
Mr and Mrs Cox announced their relationship on Facebook in December 2015
The pair lived for a while in Victoria, where Mr. Cox grew up, but they moved back to Rockhampton in November 2022 when he took a job as a TV account manager at media company Southern Cross Austereo.
Ms. Cox announced on Facebook at the time her joy in buying a house together.
“New chapter, can’t wait to make so many amazing memories with our beautiful little family,” Tayla 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.
In a statement, Mr Cox’s parents told the Courier Mail they were “in a state of shock” at the devastating news.
Matthew and Tayla Cox (pictured during her pregnancy) lived in Victoria before moving back to Rockhampton after buying a house in November 2022
Matthew Cox (left) will appear before a court in Brisbane on Friday over the death of his wife (right) and their baby
“We have lost a beautiful daughter-in-law Tayla, as well as our beloved granddaughter Murphy,” said Denis Cox and Linda Lind.
“At this stage we have very few other details and we are in an absolute state of shock.
“We ask the media to respect our privacy as we grieve and try to process what happened.”
A crime scene is still set up at the Park Avenue house where the bodies of Mrs. Cox and her baby girl were found.
“A second crime scene was also identified at an apartment complex on Constance Street, Fortitude Valley, where the man is believed to have been staying,” a statement from the Queensland Police said.
“A vehicle was also seized at Rockhampton airport and taken for forensic examination.”
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