Breaking: Mother attended police station day before murder-suicide, police say

Posted Wed 29 Jul 2026 at 5:33pmWed 29 Jul 2026 at 5:33pm, updated Wed 29 Jul 2026 at 5:46pmWed 29 Jul 2026 at 5:46pmA coronial investigation will examine the circumstances around the death of Helena Wright. (Supplied)The mother at the centre of the horrific murder-suicide in South Australia's South East attended a police station the day before she and her daughter were found dead, police have confirmed.The bodies of Helena Wright, 36, and her 23-month-old daughter from Compton were spotted in the water on Monday, after her car was found abandoned with its engine running near Port MacDonnell.Ms Wright's three-month-old son remains missing but police said the formal search was called off this afternoon after they received advice the child could not have survived.In a statement, they confirmed Ms Wright had attended the local police station on Sunday, and that police conducted a welfare check the following morning."South Australia Police can confirm Helena Wright attended the Mount Gambier Police Station on Sunday 26 July where she spoke with police," police said in a statement."Police can also confirm as a result of a call from a friend received at about 0928 hours on Monday 27 July a patrol conducted a welfare check at the home address of Ms Wright."No-one was located at that time."Police said they received reports from members of the public, at 11:13am on Monday, of Ms Wright's car at Cape Northumberland near Port MacDonnell."As this matter is now subject to a coronial investigation, SAPOL will provide all relevant information and evidence to the coroner," they said."It is not appropriate to comment further while coronial proceedings are underway."