Disturbing twist over the tragic death of three-year-old Daniel – as grim new details are revealed and his family break their silence
A missing three-year-old boy was found dead inside an unlocked car just metres from where he was last seen alive – but cops insist it had already been checked during the desperate six-hour hunt for the child.
Blonde-haired Daniel was reported missing just after 3.30pm on Tuesday when he disappeared from his family member’s home in Thabeban, four hours north of Brisbane.
A widespread search was launched, with neighbours joining multiple police and State Emergency Services units to find the little boy.
Some took to social media to suggest nearby parks, a caravan park, and various locations where he might have wandered.
However, the search came to a tragic end at 9.25pm when the preschooler was found unresponsive in the back of a disused vehicle, and declared dead at the scene.
The vehicle was located on the same property where he vanished, but police say the boy was not in the car when the search began, before temperatures outside hit 31C.
Police are not treating the situation as suspicious.
Now, the toddler’s family have spoken out about their heartbreak.
Three-year-old Daniel (pictured) was wearing a Spiderman suit when he disappeared on Tuesday
The boy is pictured with his mother, Jamaica, and two of his siblings
In a fundraiser launched to generate funds for the funeral, his uncle said the boy’s mother, Jamaica Rowe, had ‘lost her beautiful little boy far too soon’.
‘There are no words that can truly describe the pain of losing a child.
‘Jamaica has lost her beautiful little boy far too soon, and our family is devastated.
‘During this incredibly difficult time, we want to come together as family, friends, and community to help ease some of the burden she is facing.’
He said all funds would be used to give the toddler a proper send-off, and urged everyone to keep Jamaica and her family ‘in your thoughts and prayers’.
On social media, he wrote: ‘This is such a sad, sad tragedy my sista.
‘My heart is breaking for you and our whole family. I am so deeply sorry that this is happening to you.
‘Please remember you are not alone, you have a huge family standing with you, from Bundaberg, Brisbane to Cherbourg, all the way to the Far North. We all love you and care for you so much.
Daniel is pictured with his mother Jamaica Rowe when he was younger
In another post, one relative said she had been looking forward to a visit from the boy and their extended family at the end of the month.
She wrote: ‘This hurts so bad … Gonna miss you little man.’
A family friend said: ‘Breaks my heart, gone but never forgotten, rest easy … you are so loved and missed lil man.
‘Love you … RIP baby boy.’
The toddler was wearing a Spiderman outfit – similar to the one worn by missing NSW child William Tyrrell – when he disappeared from the government-owned home.
Mayor of Bundaberg Helen Blackburn made a tribute to the boy.
‘I am deeply saddened to hear of the tragic passing of the little boy at Thabeban yesterday,’ she said on Wednesday.
‘My thoughts and sympathies are with his family at this sad time.
‘The loss of any life is always sobering, and I stand with the community in their mourning of this little boy, and the support of his family in this time.’
A report will be prepared for the coroner.
