The murder of a 10-year-old girl who was found with her throat slashed at home has rocked a family friendly community on the Gold Coast.
With its bustling weekly twilight market and $1million family homes, Emerald Lakes is the last place you would expect to see a horror like this unfold.
The suburb – a short 10-minute drive to the Southport business district and Surfers Paradise – sits on an idyllic lake, with restaurants and cafes lining the boulevard next to the water.
The area is popular with families because it is self-contained, with a dentist, doctor and shops on the doorstep.
The suburb even has a seven-metre replica of Michaelangelo’s David on the waterfront – where houses stretch out onto two smaller islands.
Nearby Emmanuel College takes children from kindy through to year 12, while Carrara Stadium down the road hosted the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
Central Place – where the horrifying incident took place on Tuesday evening – is a quiet cul-de-sac shaded by rows of trees.
Neighbours spoke of their horror when news broke of the little girl’s awful death.
A 10-year-old girl has been found dead at home with her throat slashed. Emergency services are seen at the scene
The suburb – a short 10-minute drive to the Southport business district and Surfers Paradise – sits on an idyllic lake, with restaurants and cafes lining the boulevard next to the water
The suburb even has a seven metre replica of Michaelangelo’s David on the waterfront
Neighbour Chris Sydes told the ABC he was ‘heartbroken’.
‘It’s just terrible news. Humans, adults you can, sort of, understand but … a little child. That’s terrible.
‘It’s just a terrible, terrible event, terrible, breaks your heart. Shouldn’t happen in this street.’
One woman wrote in a local community group: ‘I live just down the road and I’m in complete shock, my heart goes out to this family, I cannot imagine what they must be feeling. RIP little angel,’
‘This is my neighbourhood, our community, I’m crying, total shock, hold your loved ones even closer, what is happening to this world! RIP ANGEL, sending you all the love you deserve,’ said another.
A shaken neighbour told the Courier Mail: ‘It’s normally very quiet around here.’
‘I can’t believe it.’
One of the girl’s parents made the shocking discovery just after 6pm on Tuesday.
Police and paramedics were called to the property but the girl could not be saved, despite desperate attempts to revive her.
Inspector Lou Serafim said a male relative called triple-zero after finding the girl dead.
Emerald Lakes is popular with families because it is self-contained, with a dentist, doctor and shops on the doorstep
With its bustling weekly twilight market (pictured) and $1million family homes, Emerald Lakes is the last place you would expect to see a horror like this unfold
Police and paramedics were called to the property but the girl could not be saved
Inspector Lou Serafim said a male relative called triple-zero after finding the girl dead
‘At this point in time we are treating the death of the 10-year-old girl as suspicious, and investigations are currently under way in relation to the demise of the girl,’ Insp Serafim said.
‘The triple-0 call was made by a relative who was at the incident scene when they located the 10-year-old girl.
‘He is a relative and he is being very cooperative and is assisting police with the investigation.’
The man who made the emergency call was seen assisting police at the scene while wearing a blue forensic suit, the Courier Mail reported.
No charges have been laid.
Insp Serafim added that officers and paramedics had walked into a ‘quite traumatic’ scene.
‘These officers and the paramedics are receiving internal counselling in relation to the incident that they were exposed to,’ she said.
Forensics officers were seen entering the home and a gazebo has been set up outside the front
Police have blocked off the street
One of the girl’s parents made the awful discovery at a home at Emerald Lakes at Carrara, on the Gold Coast , just after 6pm on Tuesday
Several ambulances were seen outside the home on Tuesday eveningas police blocked off the street.
Forensics officers were seen entering the home and a gazebo has been set up outside the front.
A Queensland Police spokesman said: ‘Police have launched a homicide investigation following the death of a girl in Carrara this evening.
‘Emergency Services were called to a residence on Central Place around 6pm.
‘A 10-year-old girl was located unresponsive and declared deceased at the scene.
‘A crime scene has been declared and investigations into the circumstances is underway.
‘No further information is available at this time.’
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