An 84-year-old woman was found dead in an aged care home in Sydney's outer west, and police have arrested her 53-year-old daughter on suspicion of administering an unknown substance. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing The Guardian.
Emergency services were called to Our Lady of Consolation aged care home in Rooty Hill around 11:35 pm on Thursday. Police officers located the body of an 84-year-old woman inside the building.
A 53-year-old woman was arrested at the scene and taken to Mount Druitt hospital for medical assessment. Police confirmed the arrested woman is the daughter of the deceased.
Supt Darrin Batchelor said the daughter was distressed when police arrived. "What we believe at this stage is that the 53-year-old female allegedly administered a substance to the older woman," he told reporters on Friday. "We don't know exactly what that substance is at the moment and whether it contributed to her passing last night."
Batchelor noted the daughter had no criminal history or medical training and has been compliant with officers. "It's really too early to determine what the motivation is at the moment, whether it was an assisted dying scenario, we really don't know," Batchelor said.
The daughter has since been transferred to the local police station where she remains in custody. A nine-year-old boy was present on the night but is now in the care of his family, Batchelor said.
A crime scene has been established and evidence is being collected by a forensic team. A toxicology and autopsy report is being prepared as the investigation continues.