Heartwarming message after mum, baby’s ‘catastrophic’ deaths
A heartwarming message has been shared online following the shocking deaths of a young Queensland mother and her one-year-old daughter.
Kate Paterson and her daughter April were found stabbed to death in their suburban home in Windaroo on the morning of March 12.
The tragedy occurred a day after the 38-year-old mother was captured on camera footage holding her toddler April walking side by side down the street with her fiancé, April’s father, Blake Seers.
Family friends of beloved teacher and young mothers Danielle D and Jess R have organized a GoFundMe page to raise money for the Paterson family’s funeral expenses.
Sharing a heartbreaking message, Jess R wrote: “No one plans for something this catastrophic to happen so suddenly.
“This loss has been devastating. Kate… was a loving daughter, sister, mother, partner and friend. I cannot express the joy of finding her life partner and giving birth to her daughter, April.”
The family of three was about to celebrate their daughter’s first birthday and wedding when an unexpected tragedy occurred.
“Instead they now have to live with the agonizing nightmare of saying goodbye and putting both beautiful girls to rest,” Jess R wrote.
The news devastated the small community of Windaroo, just south-east of Brisbane, and Windaroo Public School, where Ms Paterson had recently returned from maternity leave to teach.
In a heartwarming show of community support, a candlelight vigil for Ms Paterson and her daughter was held on Friday evening by neighbours, friends and members of the school community. A flower laying ceremony was also held in their memory, with a tree decorated with flowers and stuffed toys.
“In times like these, our community stands together. By sharing our pain, supporting each other, and coming together, we can begin to find strength and healing,” said local resident and vigil organizer Caroline Bower.
Mr Seers remains under police protection and investigators are waiting to speak to him at Princess Alexandra Hospital.
Detectives believe Mr Seers escaped from the family home last Thursday and ran towards Loganlea Road, where he was hit by a car and injured.
Neighbors near the family home on Belivah Street reported hearing screams Thursday morning.
Gloria Seal, a resident of the area, said that while she was driving to work, she saw a man lying on the ground covered in blood and emergency services attended to him.
Ms Seal told the Courier-Mail: “It was so sad, it was awful to walk by. He was covered in blood. I don’t know what happened to him.”
Investigations into their deaths are ongoing.
