Police have released disturbing images of the living conditions of a non-verbal man with Down syndrome who weighed just 29kg when he died. Authorities identified his caregiver as a person of interest.
Isaac Oar, 56, was pronounced dead on August 10, 2023 at an address on Alice Street in Ayr, south of Townsville.
Queensland Police are investigating Mr Oar’s care and treatment and have issued a renewed public appeal for information.
In harrowing footage released on Thursday, officers are seen walking through a house in 2023, crammed with belongings piled on top of each other.
Access to rooms in the house is blocked by boxes of items falling from bags and containers.
Police are urging members of the Burdekin community to come forward with information about Mr Oar’s care and treatment.
“Isaac was found severely malnourished – weighing just 60 pounds at the time of his death,” Detective Inspector Jason Shepherd told reporters on Thursday.
‘He was being cared for by a family member.
Queensland Police have released images from the inside of Isaac Oar’s home in a bid to gather more information about his death
Access to rooms in the house was blocked by boxes of items leaking from bags and containers.
‘He has not had or received professional medical treatment for over ten years, so the investigation is quite complex.
“We believe that in the years leading up to his death, people may have had contact with the family members and sometimes had contact with the house, and we think those people may be able to help us.”
Police claim Mr Oar’s condition is the result of years of neglect.
Det Insp Shepherd said Mr Oar’s main carer, his older sister, was a person of interest in their investigation.
Footage released on Thursday shows police entering the house in 2023 to investigate Mr Oar’s living conditions
There is no misconduct whatsoever.
“At this stage the primary caregiver is the main person of interest,” Det Insp Shepherd said.
“There is no other information to suggest that other people could have been involved with him that would have caused him to be in the state he was found in.”
If police did not find a perpetrator responsible, the investigation would shift to the coroner and possibly a coronial inquiry, Det Insp Shepherd said.
Anyone with information is urged to call Crime Stoppers.
Police are calling on anyone with information to come forward with information about Mr Oar