The body of a mother-of-four who was stabbed to death inside her home has been removed by police as a man is charged with one count of murder.
The body of Drew Douglas was discovered at a house in St Marys, Sydney’s west, just before 4pm on Wednesday and taken on a stretcher to an emergency services vehicle with a tarp used to protect his remains.
The blanket offered Mrs. Douglas a protection in death that she did not have in her tragic final hours.
It emerged police received a call ‘concerned about the welfare’ of a man at a property at 8.40pm on Tuesday evening, but emergency services did not attend the home until 10 hours later .
As the 31-year-old’s body was taken for an autopsy, officers continued to take bags of evidence home and speak to neighbours.
The body of a mother-of-four who was stabbed to death in western Sydney has been removed from the home where she was killed (pictured)
The body of Drew Douglas was taken from the suburban home, 47 kilometers from Sydney’s CBD, to an emergency services vehicle, with a tarp (pictured) used to protect his remains
The cover (pictured) offered Ms Douglas protection in death she did not have in her tragic final hours
Her remains were taken from her home in St Marys, Sydney’s west, on a stretcher (pictured)
Drew Douglas (pictured) gave birth to her fourth child just a month ago
At around 6.45am on Wednesday, another triple-0 call was made from the house on Edmondson Avenue, 47 kilometers from Sydney’s CBD.
When officers finally arrived, Ms Douglas was found stabbed in the chest.
The mother, who had given birth just a month ago, tragically died at the scene, despite desperate attempts by paramedics to resuscitate her.
“About 45 minutes later, a 35-year-old man from St Marys was arrested at Campbelltown Police Station and taken into custody,” NSW Police said.
“The man has now been charged with one count of murder; he was denied bail to appear in Campbelltown Local Court tomorrow (Thursday August 17, 2023). ‘
As Ms Douglas’ body was taken for post-mortem examination, officers questioned neighbors (pictured)
A crime scene investigator wearing a full suit is pictured taking a bag of evidence from the house
Police officers are pictured outside the house in St Marys in western Sydney on Wednesday
Police officers are pictured at the scene on Edmondson Avenue in St Marys
A police emergency services vehicle and detectives are pictured at the scene where a woman was stabbed to death
A Critical Incident Team has been set up to investigate the reasons for the 10 hour delay in getting home.
“There is certainly a history of police involvement with these two individuals,” NSW Deputy Commissioner Leanne McCusker told reporters.
“The circumstances surrounding why there was no attendance and the timeline from last night to this morning are part of the critical incident investigation,” she said.
However, Assistant Commissioner McCusker said she was “not aware of any threat of violence” in the initial phone call.
She also indicated that Wednesday morning’s triple-0 call may have been made by one of the couple’s children.
“I don’t believe it was (done) by the victim but by other members inside the house,” Assistant Commissioner McCusker said.
She added that there were no outstanding apprehended violence orders or pending charges.
Mother-of-four Drew Douglas is said to have been stabbed to death at her St Marys home
Forensic officers arrived at the home which remained a crime scene on Wednesday
Ms Douglas had four children aged 12, 11, one and a four-week-old baby girl.
His age has yet to be confirmed, but he is believed to be in his 30s.
Her heartbroken sister, Jade, took to social media to pay her respects.
“It’s not fair to tear a family apart, I’ll never understand how someone can do something so wrong.” I’m broken, shattered and numb. My family didn’t deserve this, my sister didn’t,” wrote Jade Douglas.
She later added, “I love you sissy.”
Her sister’s death sparked an outpouring of tributes.
‘My heart is broken. I will never be able to talk to my best friend again,” a friend commented.
Forensic officers were seen photographing a car parked in the driveway of the house
Homicide detectives (pictured at home) have launched an investigation into the death of Drew Douglas
A neighbor described the incident as “just really shocking”.
“It’s not what you expect,” the resident told Daily Mail Australia. “Drew was a nice lady.”
Neighbor Ross Windley, 61, who has lived on the streets for 60 years, said the incident was “absolutely devastating – just horrific”.
“Around a quarter to seven this morning I was woken up by two ambos running down the street, followed by police cars,” he said.
“It was a hive of police activity. They cordoned off the whole street, then a detective came and asked me if I had CCTV, which I didn’t.
Mr Windley said he first saw police going to another address ‘across the street which the police frequent a lot’.
“I think that’s what happened this morning, they instinctively went down there when they first tipped over because they’ve been there so many times, but then they immediately screamed” , did he declare.
Mr Windley said he did not know the couple but was used to seeing their children playing in the street.
He said he believed the young family was living with an older couple.
Shocked neighbors described the woman as the ‘nicest person ever’. Pictured are police outside the house on Edmondson Avenue
The Edmondson Avenue house remained a crime scene on Wednesday night as homicide detectives opened an investigation into the circumstances surrounding Ms Douglas’ death.
Forensic officers were seen photographing the house and scouring the premises for any evidence.
A critical incident team will investigate all other circumstances surrounding the incident, which will be subject to independent review.
1800RESPECT
The death of mother-of-four Drew Douglas has shocked neighbors in St Marys Street
Police spent the afternoon searching the street and nearby courtyards for evidence
A mother-of-four died after being stabbed in a western Sydney home
