Weeks after Helena Wright, 36, and her 23-month-old daughter Hazel were found dead, her husband Brad Wright has returned to their family home. The couple's three-month-old son, Lewis, remains missing, and the search for him has been called off.
Police are investigating the deaths as a murder-suicide. Ms. Wright's body and that of her daughter were discovered floating in the ocean near Cape Northumberland after she reportedly leaped from a cliff on July 27. Mr. Wright, an electrician, had been staying with his parents following the tragedy.
He was recently seen returning to the empty Compton home, where a swing set for Hazel hung unused. He was also seen retrieving bags from his car and was later observed getting coffee with a woman in Mount Gambier. When approached by reporters, Mr. Wright declined to comment on whether he had forgiven his wife.
It is understood that Mr. Wright is working with a local funeral home, but faces an emotional wait for the remains of Ms. Wright and Hazel to be released by the coroner. Ms. Wright's family from Europe and the United States are expected to travel to South Australia once the bodies are available.
A GoFundMe page has been established to assist with travel and funeral expenses, aiming to raise $75,000 and having already collected over $43,000. The page describes Ms. Wright as having "stepped from a cliff with her beautiful babies in her arms into the arms of her waiting savior."
Details have emerged suggesting Ms. Wright may have been suffering from postnatal depression. A relative stated that Mr. Wright had discussed his wife's struggles with the condition after Lewis's birth, believing she was improving.
Neighbors described Ms. Wright as a stay-at-home mother who made her children's clothes and maintained a permaculture garden. She also volunteered at a local toy library but was otherwise described as private. Friends revealed she experienced debilitating migraines and exhaustion following Lewis's birth, in addition to the postnatal depression.
The couple, who reportedly met in Melbourne, married around 2023. They were described as having strong Christian faith and held anti-authority views, potentially influenced by their experiences during Victoria's COVID-19 lockdowns. After leaving a Presbyterian congregation, they reportedly engaged in home church gatherings.
The incident has prompted renewed discussions about support for mothers experiencing postnatal depression. Perinatal Anxiety and Depression Australia reports that one in seven Australian women are affected by the condition in the first year postpartum.
South Australia Police are conducting an internal review of their response to the incident. Police Commissioner Grant Stevens confirmed Ms. Wright had interacted with an officer the day before her death but could not disclose the nature of that interaction. The police statement confirmed an internal review and a mandatory report to the Coroner are underway, alongside the coronial investigation into the circumstances of the deaths.
A makeshift memorial, including stuffed animals and flowers, has been placed at the Cape Northumberland lookout. A cross has also been carved into the wooden railing nearby. The search for baby Lewis was suspended due to the near-zero chance of survival and the inability to locate his remains.