The first image of a seven-year-old Adelaide child who died from “severe health difficulties” has been released as police open the second significant criminal negligence inquiry in the state in the past month.
On February 10, Makai Wanganeen was transported from his residence in Craigmore, in the city’s north, to Lyell McEwin Hospital before being moved to Women’s and Children’s Hospital because he was “extremely unwell.”
Later that evening, he passed away, and a special task team is currently looking into whether or not his demise was caused by neglect.
The investigation is being conducted by the same detectives who are looking into the death of six-year-old Charlie, who passed away in July at her family’s government-owned home in Munno Para, also in the city’s northern suburbs, purportedly from malnutrition.
Investigators are looking into Makai’s five siblings, who range in age from seven to sixteen.
On the day of his son’s funeral in March, Makai’s father Shane Wanganeen wrote a heartbreaking Facebook post in which he described his pain.
He wrote on his Facebook, which has now been taken down, “From the bottom of my heart, I would like to offer my thankfulness to all that have helped and supported me throughout this dreadful occurrence.”
Words are inadequate to convey how strongly I feel and what I really want to say to you all.
Makai was referred to as a “happy” and “cheerful” child by a neighbour.
“I was just devastated to learn of his passing.” I spent a few days wandering around in a trance, the neighbour told The Advertiser.
Gordon Walters, who resides on the same block as Makai, expressed his shock at learning of Makai’s passing.
That’s tragic, The neighbourhood here is often fairly peaceful, so I’m actually surprised by that,’ he remarked.
Police begin a Task Force Prime investigation.
The kid had a lot of major health conditions, South Australia Police detective superintendent Des Bray stated during a press briefing on Monday.
It was a serious, well-known health issue, therefore the reason of death alone wasn’t enough to warrant alarm, he said.
Information from “different child protection authorities” was acquired and given to police ten days after his death.
Investigators’shortly after’ “started looking through tonnes of material” and “had a paediatric expert’s opinion,” according to Supt. Bray.
They came to the conclusion that there were enough reasons to open a criminal inquiry into the suspected criminal neglect that resulted in the death.
Makai’s death and the alleged maltreatment of his siblings, who have all been living with their father since November 2020, will be investigated to see if anyone can be held accountable.
The boy’s mother was not present when he passed away.
When asked if Makai’s death resembled Charlie’s, the man responded, “There is (claimed) neglect and abuse which we believe to have occurred over a period of time, but it doesn’t have all the same hallmarks as Charlie’s.”
In the early hours of Friday, July 15, Charlie was discovered unresponsive at her family’s housing commission residence in Munno Para, in Adelaide’s northern suburbs.
Police launched a major crimes investigation after her passing, and as their mother was being looked into for potential criminal mistreatment, her five siblings were placed in state custody.
Charlie was eventually found to have celiac disease, a very serious immunological illness in which the digestive system responds to gluten.
Two days before Charlie passed away, child protection officers paid her a visit, although they didn’t appear very worried for her welfare.
According to Supt. Bray, criminal negligence is stated to occur when someone who has a duty of care to a kid fails to take all necessary precautions to keep them safe, and a child is injured or dies as a result of that neglect.
The maximum sentence for the offence is 15 years in jail.