Tara Richardson charged with murder over death of her four-year-old son Tarrin-Macen found face down in a pool

A mother has been charged with murder following a two-plus year investigation into the circumstances under which her four-year-old son was found face down in a pool.

Tara Richardson was taken into custody at the Mackay Magistrates Court in Queensland on Friday after detectives wrapped up a 2.5-year investigation into her son's death. 

Ms Richardson phoned paramedics at 5pm on August 21, 2021, after discovering that her four-year-old son, Tarrin-Macen, was face down in her backyard pool. 

She has now been charged with murder (domestic violence) and interfering with a corpse after detectives alleged that Tarrin-Macen had died before entering the pool. 

Regional Crime Coordinator Darrin Shadlow would not reveal how the boy had actually died.

Detective Superintendent Shadlow said that the pool 'only had a small amount of water' and that a post mortem examination found no water in the boy's lungs. 

'It was proven that the deceased child was not alive when he entered the [disused] pool … at the back of the property,' Detective Superintendent Shadlow said.

He would not reveal how many hours passed between Tarrin-Macen's death and Ms Richardson's triple-0 call and that more information would come out during the trial.

Ms Richardson lived in a Sarina home along Munburra Road with another man but detectives confirmed that she was the only person under investigation right now. 

Detective Superintendent Shadlow said that the case was 'challenging' for his staff and especially for Tarrin-Macen’s father, Andrew O’Sullivan.

'However, a little bit of closure for him [now] I suppose,' he said.