The family of a woman accused of murdering and consuming parts of her four-year-old son is grappling with the aftermath of the allegations, with one relative expressing that they "should have stepped in." The brother of the accused, who is the closest in age to her, told the Daily Mail that their father and older brother are tormented by the thought that they could have prevented the tragedy.

The 32-year-old woman, whose name is being withheld for legal reasons, was arrested on Saturday after reportedly confessing to killing and eating parts of her son at a home in Wyong, on the NSW Central Coast. According to the brother, drug counselors and welfare workers had arranged for the woman to move to the Wyong residence where the alleged incident occurred.

"We should have been closer to her, I guess," the brother stated, reflecting on his sister's struggles. "And we should have gone and helped her, but this is nothing we could have expected."

He mentioned his last contact with his sister was via text a few days prior to the alleged murder, during which she seemed to be in a normal state. "She was proud of me, what I've done...because I had problems too, with my kids," he recalled.

The extended family, many of whom reside in Gunnedah in north-central NSW, are reportedly in shock. Some family members living in Gunnedah and Armidale, where the accused had previously lived with her mother, had previously obtained apprehended violence orders (AVOs) against her. When approached by the Daily Mail, relatives at the home of an older family member and the accused's mother in western Sydney declined to comment.

NSW social services had reportedly been involved with the boy on three occasions due to concerns about neglect and the mother's suspected drug-induced psychosis. Despite these interactions, the child was ultimately left in her care prior to his death.

The brother described his sister as a "lovely" child who experienced difficulties as she grew older. He indicated that emotions were running high within the family and advised against further approaches to relatives.

Police allege the mother killed her son between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. on July 4. She was subsequently charged with murder and appeared in court on Saturday, where bail was denied. Her case is scheduled to return to Wyong Local Court on September 1.