Newcastle woman charged over murder of Danielle ‘Quaker’ Easey

A woman charged over the murder of ‘quaker’ girl Danielle Easey is a mother-of-four who allegedly impersonated her victim on social media in the weeks following.

Carol Marie Dawson McHenry, 32, was arrested at a home in Holmesville, west of Newcastle, on Thursday – less than a month after Ms Easey’s body was found wrapped in plastic on the banks of a creek.

McHenry is charged with being an accessory murder and dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception.

The mother-of-four allegedly impersonated Ms Easey, 29, on social media in the days after her death to access her bank accounts money, police will alleged in court.

 

Carol Marie Dawson McHenry, 32, was arrested at a home in Holmesville, on the NSW central coast, on Thursday and charged with being an accessory to the murder of Danielle Easey

Ms Easey's body was found wrapped in plastic and dumped by the banks of a creek on August 31. Police now believe she had been killed a fortnight earlier and her body stored at a disused chicken factory

Ms Easey’s body was found wrapped in plastic and dumped by the banks of a creek on August 31. Police now believe she had been killed a fortnight earlier and her body stored at a disused chicken factory

McHenry is believed to have known her co-accused Justin Kent Dilosa, 33, who was charged by police with Ms Easey’s murder. 

Police allege that Ms Easey – herself a mother-of-two – was killed at one of two share houses on the Central Coast in the days around August 17.

Her body was allegedly wrapped in plastic sheeting and taken to a disused chicken factory in Cardiff, some 80 kilometres away, where it lay for a fortnight. 

On August 31 she was dumped on the banks of Cockle Creek at Lake Macquarie.

McHenry made a brief appearance in Toronto Local Court on Friday, sobbing during the hearing as she was refused bail. 

Her co-accused Dilosa will also face court on Friday.

Speaking in the wake of the arrests, Acting Detective Superintendent Jason Dickinson revealed Ms Easey suffered a violent end. 

‘A post-mortem examination confirmed that Danielle had been seriously assaulted and suffered stab wounds,’ he said. 

Mr Dickinson said the two people who were arrested had known Ms Easey for ‘some time’.

McHenry - a mother-of-four - is facing charges of being an accessory murder and dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception

McHenry – a mother-of-four – is facing charges of being an accessory murder and dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception

On Thursday detectives arrested a 33-year-old man at an industrial premise at Cardiff just before 10am and took him to Belmont Police Station

About an hour later, a 32-year-old woman was arrested at a home at Holmesville and taken to Toronto Police Station

On Thursday detectives arrested a 33-year-old man at an industrial premise at Cardiff just before 10am and took him to Belmont Police Station. About an hour later, a 32-year-old woman was arrested at a home at Holmesville and taken to Toronto Police Station

A Mitsubishi Delica, which police believe was the car used to transport Ms Easey's body, was seized and has been forensically examined

A Mitsubishi Delica, which police believe was the car used to transport Ms Easey’s body, was seized and has been forensically examined

‘All three [people] were associates and known to each other for some time. The exact nature of the relationship is not something I will go into today,’ he said.

‘Based on the information we have to hand today there is nothing indicating there are other people involved other than those we have arrested today.’

Amid the arrests on Thursday, detectives executed two crime scene warrants at the Cardiff industrial premise.  

They also searched a Holmesville house and a home at Narara, almost an hour away. 

A Mitsubishi Delica, which police allege was the car was used to transport Ms Easey’s body, was seized and has been forensically examined.

Ms Easey made national headlines in 1989 when she was born on a grass nature strip following the Newcastle earthquake.

When the hospital was evacuated, her mother Jennifer Collier was forced to give birth in a makeshift tent made of sheets.

Ms Easey was born 90 minutes after the 5.6 tremor struck Newcastle – reducing part of the city to rubble.

She was given the nickname ‘Quaker’ after her birth. 

The 29-year-old had two children, Reef and Mahli, and a close friend told Daily Mail Australia she was working hard to build a life for them.

Ms Easey (pictured as a baby being held by mother Jennifer) was given the nickname 'Quaker' after she was born on a patch of grass during Newcastle's 1989 earthquake

Ms Easey (pictured as a baby being held by mother Jennifer) was given the nickname ‘Quaker’ after she was born on a patch of grass during Newcastle’s 1989 earthquake 

Homicide Squad detectives arrested two people in connection to the murder of Danielle Easey on Thursday

Homicide Squad detectives arrested two people in connection to the murder of Danielle Easey on Thursday

Detectives searched the Cardiff industrial premise (pictured) and a home at Narara

Detectives searched the Cardiff industrial premise (pictured) and a home at Narara

THE DEATH OF ‘QUAKER’:

August 17, 2019: Police believe Danielle Easey is killed at a share house on NSW Central Coast

Her body is then allegedly wrapped in plastic and taken to an abandoned chicken factory

August 31, 2019: Ms Easey’s body is dumped on the banks of Cockle Creek

September 14, 2019: Hundreds gather at Ms Easey’s funeral including her boyfriend Benjamin Todd, who is freed from jail on day release to say farewell

September 19, 2019: Justin Kent Dilosa, 33, is arrested and charged with the murder of Ms Easey.

 Carol Marie Dawson McHenry, 32, a mother-of-four, is also arrested and charged with being an accessory to murder  

In the months before she died, Ms Easey had been studying to be a teachers aide. Her children were in the care of their fathers, and she was working to get away from a ‘bad crowd’ she had been associating with.

Mr Easey’s brother Brendan told Newcastle News of his family’s relief detectives had made arrests.

‘The detectives have been great, we would like to thank the public for their support and, of course, our family and friends for helping us stay strong during this horrible ordeal,’ he said.

‘It is the next step in the ordeal but at least now we can focus on Dell and how she changed all of our lives for the better.’ 

Ms Easey’s mother Jenny described her daughter as a beautiful person and terrific mother, Nine News reported.

‘Danielle was a beautiful person, she was a terrific mother, she had a big heart,’ she said.

‘I still think it’s a dream sometimes that I wish I could wake up from.’ 

Ms Easey revealed on the Facebook post that she was living in fear in her own house the year before her death

Ms Easey revealed on the Facebook post that she was living in fear in her own house the year before her death

Ms Easey, a mother-of-two, had been trying desperately to get her life back on track in the months before she was killed

Ms Easey, a mother-of-two, had been trying desperately to get her life back on track in the months before she was killed 

Benjamin Todd, the boyfriend of Danielle Easey, delivered an emotional tribute at her funeral last Saturday. He had arrived on day release from prison, where he is locked up on charges of damaging property and assault

Benjamin Todd, the boyfriend of Danielle Easey, delivered an emotional tribute at her funeral last Saturday. He had arrived on day release from prison, where he is locked up on charges of damaging property and assault

On Saturday, Ms Easey’s boyfriend Ben Todd was allowed out of jail in handcuffs on day release to join hundreds at her funeral.

Todd said he would never forgive himself for not being there when she was allegedly killed. 

The convict, who is serving a sentence at Shortland Correctional Centre for common assault and damaging property, was behind bars at the time of her death.

He arrived at the service in Ryhope, near Newcastle wearing handcuffs and leg chains, flanked by two prison officers to prevent him from fleeing custody during the service.

‘I’m so sorry I wasn’t there to protect you,’ he said through tears. ‘I’ll never forgive myself.’

Mr Todd said he had ‘the most amazing time’ with Ms Easey, who he said made him laugh every day and showered him with gifts, as he did for her.   

‘I truly loved her and I’m so glad I got to spend what little time I had with her,’ he said. 

Mr Todd told mourners he would 'never forgive himself' for not being able to protect Ms Easey, whose body was found wrapped up in plastic on the banks of Cockle Creek in Lake Macquarie

Mr Todd told mourners he would ‘never forgive himself’ for not being able to protect Ms Easey, whose body was found wrapped up in plastic on the banks of Cockle Creek in Lake Macquarie

Ms Easey's mother, Jennifer Collier (centre) was seen tearfully hugging mourners, and led the procession our of the chapel after the service

Ms Easey’s mother, Jennifer Collier (centre) was seen tearfully hugging mourners, and led the procession our of the chapel after the service 

Benjamin Todd (left), the boyfriend of Danielle Easey, was consoled by the woman's brother, Brendan (right), after speaking at the funeral service

Benjamin Todd (left), the boyfriend of Danielle Easey, was consoled by the woman’s brother, Brendan (right), after speaking at the funeral service 

Ms Easey's brother, Brendan (pictured) was seen embracing mourners outside the chapel, as his sister Tahnee (right) stood to the side

Ms Easey’s brother, Brendan (pictured) was seen embracing mourners outside the chapel, as his sister Tahnee (right) stood to the side

Mr Todd stood back as the balloons were released, and was quickly escorted into a paddywagon when the funeral ended

Benjamin Todd

Mr Todd stood back as the balloons were released, and was quickly escorted into a a police van when the funeral ended

The body of murder victim Danielle 'Dell' Louise Easey is laid to rest at a funeral service held at Ryhope Memorial Park

The body of murder victim Danielle ‘Dell’ Louise Easey is laid to rest at a funeral service held at Ryhope Memorial Park

Ms Easey’s sister Tahnee told the crowd she was still ‘speechless’ over the sudden loss of her beloved sibling.

‘There aren’t enough words in the world for you,’ she said. 

‘You were my soulmate and my best friend. You were a sensational mother, not only to your children but to everyone around you. 

‘I could talk for hours about you, but everyone here already knows what kind of person you were.

‘You were one truly amazing person. I’ll cherish every moment spent with you. 

‘You never failed to make me laugh and you never failed to show me unconditional love.’ 



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