Brisbane murder-suicide may be linked to brain surgery: experts
The actions of a mother who drugged and murdered her daughter before jumping to her death from a crane may be linked to brain surgery the 49-year-old had three years earlier.
Brisbane mother of two Chiaki Pearson underwent surgery to repair an aneurysm, which experts believe may have affected her behaviour and her ability to cope under pressure, The Courier-Mail reports.
Police found Celeste’s body in the bathroom of her family’s Auchenflower penthouse in the early morning of December 8.
Several hours later the body of her mother was found at the base of a crane in Toowong.
Police were left to piece together a disturbing chain of events that began with Pearson drugging both Celeste and her 8-year-old sister.
She then allegedly killed her 11-year-old daughter in the bathroom of the apartment in an attack involving multiple weapons - including a knife.
Her partner and property developer Chris Pearson was in the penthouse at the time of the attack but claims he slept through it and wasn’t aware of the incident until police woke him.
His wife’s fingerprints were taken from a knife and other evidence, clearing Mr Pearson from any involvement in his daughter’s murder.
The Milton State School Year Six student was described as a ‘high-achieving and friendly young child’.
Friends of the Pearson family said the heart-breaking actions of the usually ‘loving mother’ were out of character.
“She really just does everything for everyone,” she told The Courier-Mail.
Lifeline is available 24 hours a day seven days a week on 13 11 14 or online via Online Crisis Support Chat at [www.lifeline.org.au|www.lifeline.org.au] between 8pm and midnight EST daily.
