Mum accused of murdering eight-year-old son found dead in jail

A woman charged with murdering her eight-year-old son has died in a Victorian jail.

Joanne Finch, 42, had been in custody since March after Brodie Moran’s body was found at a house on the Mornington Peninsula.

On Tuesday, Victoria Police said a 42-year-old woman died at a Ravenhall correctional facility, in Melbourne’s outer west.

A police spokesperson said her death was not being treated as suspicious.

Joanne Finch was accused of murdering her eight-year-old son. Source: 7 News
Joanne Finch was accused of murdering her eight-year-old son. Source: 7 News
The 42-year-old had been in custody since March after Brodie Moran’s body was found at a Tootgarook house. Source: 7 News
The 42-year-old had been in custody since March after Brodie Moran’s body was found at a Tootgarook house. Source: 7 News

Ms Finch’s lawyer, Brendan Wilkinson, said the community that had thrown their support behind her, were now shattered by her death.

“Everyone is devastated. There was a whole team of people behind her, and the psychiatric staff who did everything they could,” he told The Age.

“The only thing she lived for was her son, and when Brodie was gone it proved too much.”

In a statement earlier this year, Brodie’s father Lee Moran, who separated from Ms Finch in 2015, said not being there to prevent his boy’s death is his “deepest regret”.

Brodie’s father said his biggest regret was not being there to protect his son. Source: AAP
Brodie’s father said his biggest regret was not being there to protect his son. Source: AAP

“He lived a life in his eight short years that many others may not live in a lifetime.

“When remembering Brodie it is with the happiness of his warm cheeky smile and loving caring nature, and this is a gift he has left us all.”

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