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A nurse and mother charged with the murder of her four-year-old daughter has been named in court.
Detectives from the Ipswich Criminal Investigation Branch charged Lowood nurse Jessie Renee Phillips following her daughter Cleo Catterall’s death on Monday night.
Emergency services were called to the property about 11.10pm on Monday after reports a child was unresponsive.
The girl was declared dead at the scene.
The 31-year-old mother was charged with one count of murder (domestic violence offence) against a child.
Detectives are investigating whether the child was drowned.
Ms Phillips’ case was mentioned in the Ipswich Magistrates Court on Tuesday.
No pleas were entered, with the matter adjourned for committal purposes to June 17.
Ms Phillips was remanded in custody and will not be required to appear in person at her next court date.
Investigations are ongoing, with police urging anyone with relevant information to come forward.
Detective Inspector Michael Manago from the Ipswich District Crime Group said the house remained a crime scene and an autopsy would determine the cause of death.
He added that “it was a terribly confronting scene to those first responders” and said police believed the woman was the only adult in the home at the time of the alleged murder.
Neighbour Chris Forsyth told The Courier-Mail that he was in his garage and heard screams from the house opposite his.
“I was just working on my car and I heard screaming from outside. Didn’t think much of it at the time,” Mr Forsyth said.
“I saw my security cameras later where several cops cars started flying in late last night.
“The next minute the whole family just started pouring out the house (with police).”
Another neighbour, Peter Atkinson, said he was distraught when he heard what had happened.
“Honestly, I was crying,” Mr Atkinson told The Courier-Mail.
“I did get emotional. I didn’t know them but it’s still a child.”
“Really, you wouldn’t expect this in Lowood.”
Queensland Premier David Crisafulli described the incident as “deeply troubling” and extended his condolences to the child’s family.
“My reaction is one of deep sorrow, and it’s just so deeply troubling, and I want to see a full and thorough investigation,” Mr Crisafulli said.
He said he would receive a briefing on whether the family was known to authorities.
“I think that community and the state will grieve at that, and they will feel that very deeply, and the investigation should be thorough, and all of those things should be looked at.”
Lowood, in the Somerset Region, is about 70km west of Brisbane, between Ipswich and Toowoomba.
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