New details have emerged of how a little girl with a rare genetic disorder was “extremely emaciated” and allegedly received “insufficient” care before her death.
Tiffani Scholten, 12, was found unconscious on the Gold Coast on April 18, 2022 and was later pronounced dead at Coomera’s residence.
Detectives launched Uniform Operation Zoysia to investigate the circumstances of her death.
The breakthrough came Tuesday when police arrested and charged a man and a woman who were allegedly Tiffani’s guardians at the time of her death.
Carrissa Kaye Scholten, 36, and Aaron Paul Richardson, 37, were charged with a single count of murder.
The couple did not appear at Southport Magistrates’ Court when their matters were first mentioned on Tuesday afternoon.
Police will claim that Tiffani’s death was the result of inadequate care.
They told reporters at a news conference on Tuesday that emergency services faced confrontational scenes on the night they were called to the home in 2022.
“Queensland Ambulance Service attended the home and found an extremely emaciated child who had sadly passed away,” Gold Coast District Vulnerable Persons Unit Detective Inspector Paul Fletcher told reporters.
“It was a very confronting scene when they arrived at the address, both for the ambulance officers and the police, and I think anything involving a child is always traumatic for people, no matter what their profession.”
Police allege care for Tiffani Scholten (pictured) was “insufficient and directly related to her death” after her guardians were charged with murder.
Tiffani was found unconscious and “extremely emaciated” at a home in Coomera on the Gold Coast in April 2022. Pictured: Police at the scene.
‘The evidence obtained showed that the care of this child was allegedly insufficient and was directly related to her death.’
Tiffani is known to have had medical problems, including Rett syndrome, a rare disease that affects brain development.
Inspector Fletcher confirmed that paediatricians, child specialists and other experts were “relied upon” during the two-year investigation, and agreed that a large part of the investigation was determining that the cause of Tiffani’s death was independent of her medical conditions.
“A lot of background research and evidence had to be done because of some of the young woman’s medical complications, which increased the time it took to gather that evidence,” he said.
‘There were a number of complexities that added to that delay, but these matters are of a very serious nature, so we left no stone unturned.
“Any kind of medical condition should be thoroughly examined and we must rely on experts to provide information to the police to help us.”
Inspector Fletcher previously revealed the investigation had caused significant distress to officers.
“The investigation into the death of this young woman has been one of the most heartbreaking and complex we have ever had to undertake,” he said.
Tiffani Scholten (pictured) suffered from a number of medical conditions, including Rhett syndrome.
‘From the moment the investigation began, our priority has been to seek justice for this innocent child.
‘It is deeply distressing to investigate the death of any child, but the circumstances surrounding this case have been particularly confronting for our officers.
“Our detectives have worked diligently, using all available resources to ensure we were able to close this investigation.”
“We understand the pain and grief this has caused the community and those who knew and loved this young woman,” he said.
A full report of evidence has been ordered to be prepared by October 25.
The Scholten and Richardson cases will be discussed again on 8 November.
Both were excused from appearing.
Scholten’s court documents reveal she still lives in Coomera, where police allege the murder took place, and her occupation is listed as “unemployed”.
Richardson now lives in Redland Bay and his employment is listed as “unknown”.
A man and a woman were charged with murder on Tuesday, two years after Tiffani’s death.
Forensic equipment is seen at the house (pictured) on the Gold Coast in 2022
Detective Senior Sergeant Greg Aubort previously said police had received “varying levels of cooperation” from the family.
He also confirmed that police had never been to the house or encountered Tiffani before her death.
“We are in consultation with pediatric specialists and experts in the field of Tiffani’s (medical) conditions,” he said.
“It’s certainly a case where we need to separate the implications of the medical conditions that Tiffani was suffering from and any other possible factors that may be contributing to her death.”