A teenager living in the house where a little girl was allegedly left to die in her cot is one of seven children to the stepmum accused of murder.
The tangled family web of tragic toddler Willow Dunn can be revealed after her body was found malnourished and decomposing in her Brisbane home.
Willow’s complex family ties include her seven-year-old brother, three half-siblings, six step-siblings, and six step-nieces and nephews.
Her father, Mark James Dunn, 43, and his girlfriend Shannon White, 43, were both charged with murder in the two weeks since the four-year-old’s death.
White allegedly told police that caring for Willow, who had Down syndrome, was not her responsibility as she was not her biological daughter.
Willow’s complex family ties include her seven-year-old brother, three half-siblings, six step-siblings, and six step-nieces and nephews
Willow Dunn, 4, was found decomposing in her bed and police revealed she died of malnourishment and sustained neglect
Willow’s father, Mark James Dunn, 43, and his girlfriend Shannon White, 43, were both charged with murder in the two weeks since the four-year-old’s death
Her daughter Taliah, 19, also lived at the home in Cannon Hill and sometimes fed and bathed her toddler stepsister.
Willow was one of four children living there, along with her seven-year-old brother, and White’s 12-year-old son.
White had moved from her home in Adelaide to start dating Dunn just 18 months after Willow’s mother, and White’s best friend, Naomi died giving birth on November 5, 2014.
Then Dunn and White’s own son was born on August 30, 2018, and by all accounts a healthy and happy baby adored by both his parents.
White posted numerous photos of herself and the little boy to Facebook including a recent video of him happily playing with toys on the floor.
Taliah has four elder sisters, Brenda, 25, Tania, 24, Dayle, 23, and Chantelle, 22, each of whom have children older than their 21-month-old half-brother.
White’s daughter Taliah, 19, also lived at the home in Cannon Hill and sometimes fed and bathed her toddler stepsister
White has five adult daughters, step sisters to Willow, Brenda, 25, Tania, 24, Dayle, 23, Chantelle, 22, and Taliah, 19, who are pictured here with their own kids
Chantelle, 22, has a daughter born just weeks before Willow, and another child who died
Brenda, 25, (left) and Tania, 24, (right) welcome their niece – Chantelle’s daughter – into the world in September 2015
Brenda has a five-year-old son who is close friends with his 12-year-old uncle, while Tania and Dayle have two kids each.
Chantelle has a daughter born just weeks before Willow, and another child who died.
The four older daughters still live in Adelaide but regularly comment on their mother and little sister’s social media profiles, as well as Ms Dunn’s before her death.
Jason White, father to the five girls and the 12-year-old boy, died suddenly on February 28, 2015.
‘To this day I can’t understand why (he died), [your son] misses you so bad,’ White wrote on the first anniversary of Jason’s death.
‘It’s heartbreaking to hear [Brenda’s child] telling his mum he wants to build a cubby house to the sky to bring you back. And you have five beautiful grandkids you would adore.’
Dayle, 23, has two young children of her own – both sons not much older than Willow
Tania is pictured with her younger brother, 12, who moved to Brisbane along with his mother
Jason White, father to the five girls and the 12-year-old boy, died suddenly on February 28, 2015
Detective Inspector Chris Knight police wanted to speak to anyone who knew of them and the family dynamic.
‘We continue to obtain information from potential witnesses who are assisting us to build a clearer picture of the dynamics relating to Willow Dunn’s family,’ he said.
‘Our investigative team are not yet satisfied that we’ve exhausted all inquiries and will continue to investigate and evaluate all information that we come by so that we can make better informed decisions in the future.’
Willow’s seven-year-old brother was also well cared for and there appear to be no signs of mistreatment towards him.
Shannon White, 43, holds her toddler son, born August 2018, whom she shares with her boyfriend Mark Dunn
White (pictured, centre) was last Wednesday arrested and later charged with murder. Dunn had been slapped with the same charge a week earlier
White (pictured, centre) was led away from the station in handcuffs looking worse for wear and wearing thongs and shabby clothes
Naomi Dunn also has adult children Emily (left) and Zac Kipping (right, with Willow’s seven-year-old brother on his shoulders) from a previous relationship, who mourned their half-sister on Facebook in the days after her death
Meanwhile, Willow was allegedly left to lie in her own filth for days or weeks on end while they played with the new baby.
They allegedly left the helpless little girl lying in her bed, starving to death, long enough for her to have infected sores on her hips down to the bone.
Ms Dunn also has adult children Emily and Zac Kipping from a previous relationship, who mourned their half-sister on Facebook in the days after her death.
‘Rest in Peace Willow. It’s so heartbreaking things have turned out this way, but you will forever be in our hearts. Fly high with mum,’ her son wrote.
White had gushed over Willow when she was born in late October 2015, when she posted a photo of the newborn infant.
‘My best mate’s baby willow such a beautiful sole (sic) can’t wait to meet her, so adorable,’ she wrote.
‘Naomi u done a amazing job with such a roller coaster pregnancy ur such a great mum and an awesome friend love u babe.’
White gushed over Willow (pictured) when she was born in late October 2015, when she posted this photo of the newborn infant
‘My best mate’s baby willow such a beautiful sole (sic) can’t wait to meet her, so adorable,’ she wrote
Ms Dunn replied: ‘Awwww you making me cry… Love you lots.’
White responded with: ‘Over 20 years of friendship and staying forever.’
Three days later Ms Dunn was dead.
Dunn and White posted numerous selfies of each other, tagged each other in couples’ memes, and left gushing emotional comments with heart emojis.
Their union appeared to have the blessing of White’s family and friends, who often remarked how ‘handsome’ Dunn was.
‘Perfect couple! Look so happy together and they both certainly deserve each other,’ one of White’s adult daughters wrote.
Willow’s body was found malnourished and decomposing in her bed at her home in Brisbane last Monday, her face partially eaten by rats, and her father Mark James Dunn (pictured) charged with murder
Mark and Naomi Dunn (pictured) married in 2014, less than a year before her death from complications after giving birth to Willow
White (pictured, second from left) was a bridesmaid at Ms Dunn’s wedding in 2014 and was her friend for 19 years at the time
Daily Mail Australia understands Willow was sent to live with an aunt and uncle after her mother’s death.
Their father up to a year later took her and her brother, who is now seven, back to live with him despite a custody attempt by the relatives.
Dunn allegedly told police after his arrest he couldn’t handle his daughter’s condition and was depressed about his wife’s death.
For the past year the toddler is believed to have been solely in the care of her father, who allegedly left her in squalor.
Police confirmed a post-mortem revealed the toddler died of malnourishment and sustained neglect.
Willow (pictured, left), who had Down Syndrome, and her brother who is now seven (right) was sent to live with an aunt and uncle after her mother’s death
Naomi Dunn (pictured) died on November 5, 2015, after giving birth to her daughter Willow, devastating her family
A Facebook post from Ms White in 2014 claimed Ms Dunn was her best friend of 19 years (pictured)
A teddy bear wearing a Parramatta Eels jersey is seen in the bedroom of the Cannon Hill home on May 26 (pictured) just hours after little Willow was allegedly found in her cot
A stroller was seen in the front yard on May 26 (pictured) as police continued to investigate what happened to the toddler