A woman found dead alongside her partner in a suspected murder-suicide in Queensland’s south-west was pregnant, police have confirmed.
An 18-month-old girl was rescued from the house by police, and comforted by an officer before being taken to hospital.
The bodies of Julia Brunsdon, 23, and Michael Waltke, 45, were found at a Charleville house at about 1am on Thursday.
Police were called to the property at 6pm on Wednesday following reports of a serious assault and were confronted with a “violent crime scene”.
Police are on the scene in Charleville where the bodies of a man and woman were found in the early hours of Thursday. (ABC News: Will Murray)
An emergency declaration was made with specialist negotiators flown in from Brisbane.
Southern Region Assistant Police Commissioner Matthew Vanderbyl said police tactically withdrew from the scene after “threats were made around a firearm”.
“I have viewed the footage, and I can tell you that they were in what I would consider was grave danger and were well and truly within the sight of harm potentially, with the way things transpired quite rapidly,” he said.
Police say the man and woman were in a relationship. (ABC News: Bella Munro)
Assistant Commissioner Vanderbyl said before withdrawing, an officer “scooped up” the 18-month-old girl and carried her to safety.
“That police officer took that young child and did what anyone who has young children or knows young children would do, and just held that child close to his chest,” he said.
“And just held that child … until she calmed.”
The toddler was taken to Charleville Hospital but was not injured.
Assistant Commissioner Vanderbyl said forensic and specialist officers had arrived in Charleville from Brisbane and the investigation would continue over the weekend.
“The situation as it developed was so volatile and dynamic that we are still piecing together that actual sequence of those events,” he said.
Assistant Comissioner Vanderbyl says officers put themselves in harm’s way to rescue a toddler. (ABC News)
“This will be a lengthy, detailed investigation as we uncover the entirety of the circumstances around the two people involved, their health, their relationship, the history of the town of Charleville and how they came to be living there.
“We will explore every facet of the involved persons’ lives to try and piece together how this could end up in the terrible way it did.”
Police say it is too early to speculate about the deaths. (ABC News: Bella Munro)
Community rattled and in disbelief
Neighbour Walter Dare said he was at home with his wife on Wednesday night when they received a message to stay inside.
Walter Dare says he was at home when his street was placed into lockdown on Wednesday night. (ABC News: Will Murray)
“We shut the doors and kept our fingers crossed,” he said.
“We didn’t know exactly why or even which house.”
Flowers left outside at a house on King Street at Charleville. (ABC News: Will Murray)
Mr Dare said finding out the details the next day was “terrible”, and his thoughts were with the little girl.
Resident Margaret Schiemer, whose family has been based in Charleville since 1920, said it was a “shock” for the quiet community.
Charleville resident Margaret Schiemer says the deaths have shocked the community. (ABC News: Bella Munro)
“It’s just an ordinary bush town. Everybody kind of knows everybody,” she said.
“It’s just something we just don’t expect in our town.”
Ms Schiemer said the uncertainty of the situation was difficult for residents to understand.
If you or anyone you know needs help:Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467Lifeline on 13 11 14Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander crisis support line 13YARN on 13 92 76Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636Headspace on 1800 650 890ReachOut at au.reachout.comMensLine Australia on 1300 789 978QLife 1800 184 527
Murweh Shire Mayor Shaun Radnedge said the incident had “devastated” the community grappling with a sense of “disbelief”.
“It’s one of those things that do not happen in these regional areas very often and when it does, it definitely sends ripples right through the whole of the community,” he said.
“It rattles you to the core.”
He said the Charleville community of about 4,000 people would unite to support each other in the wake of the incident.
The Charleville community has been “rattled” by the incident. (ABC News: Bella Munro)
“That’s what makes me so proud of being in Murweh is how strong our community is,” he said.
“I know we’ll band together to keep pushing through this, not just now but over the next few days.”
Assistant Commissioner Vanderbyl said the cooperation of the community was greatly appreciated.
He said it is a “very strong, cohesive community”.
“That also worries me because a tragedy of this gravity hits a real community like that really, really hard,” he said.
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Assistant Commissioner Vanderbyl says investigations will continue across the weekend.
Fri 7 Aug 2026 at 2:59pm
Fri 7 Aug 2026 at 2:59pm
Lengthy and detailed investigation
Assistant Commissioner Vanderbyl says police are still piecing together the sequence of events.
“This will be a lengthy, detailed investigation as we uncover the entirety of the circumstances around the two people involved, their health, their relationship, the history of the town of Charleville and how they came to be living there,” he says.
“We will explore every facet of the involved persons’ lives to try and piece together how this could end up in the terrible way it did.”
Fri 7 Aug 2026 at 2:55pm
Fri 7 Aug 2026 at 2:55pm
Police thank community for cooperation
Assistant Commissioner Vanderbyl says police greatly appreciate the cooperation of Charleville locals.
“Can I just pass on to the community of Charleville our deepest thanks as an organisation for the absolute demonstration and outpouring of support that the community of Charleville have shown for the police and for others involved,” he says.
He says it is a “very strong, cohesive community”.
“That also worries me because a tragedy of this gravity hits a real community like that really, really hard,” he says.
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