Horror as mum found dead with ‘genius’ daughter, 8, after missed opportunities

The bodies of Tiffany Wilkes, 54, and her “girl wonder” daughter Clementine, eight, were discovered outside a £500 per night Airbnb property in Brisbane, Australia at the end of September

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A mother was found dead with her “genius” eight-year-old daughter, two years after being committed to a psychiatric hospital.

The bodies of anaesthetist Tiffany Wilkes, 54, and her daughter Clementine, eight, were discovered^[1] on September 29 in a swanky $1000AUD (£493) per night Airbnb in Kenmore Hills, Brisbane.

CCTV footage showed Wilkes taking out the bins less than 24 hours before the bodies^[2] were discovered outside the home. Police are treating the case as a murder-suicide.^[3] The tragedy was uncovered after police performed a welfare check when Wilkes sent an email to a colleague detailing what she planned to do.

READ MORE: Violent husband kicked wife to death after he found texts from another man^[4]READ MORE: Screaming mum finds daughter, 20, dead in her bedroom as boyfriend arrested^[5]

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Enquiries after the discovery have raised questions over whether authorities missed opportunities to intervene and protect the child. Back in 2023, the doctor – who was well-respected in her field – received involuntary treatment after being sectioned under Australia’s Mental Health Act. Her daughter started missing school last year before her mother removed her from the classroom completely.

However, the Queensland Child Safety Department wasnot contacted in regards to Clementine’s safety. Some believe that Wilkes’ high-powered job and ability to camouflage her mental health issues may have deflected concern. Clementine was also a high-performer in school, which could have led some to incorrectly assume all was well at home.

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Wilkes shared a post about her daughter when she turned six, and gushed about her being a “girl wonder, mini genius, star performer and future leader of the world^[6]“. “It’s hard to believe you are six my beautiful girl,” the post read.

Wilkes justified her daughter’s absences with illnesses and holidays, which didn’t seem to raise red flags. She was then removed from school altogether and enrolled into the state homeschooling program.

Meanwhile, Wilkes had stopped working shifts and was said to be struggling with her mental health while moving from property to property. CCTV footage obtained by 7News showed the mother calmly taking out the bins on Sunday afternoon, less than 24 hours before police made the heartbreaking find.

The only sign of the tragedy was a black Mercedes^[7] A200, parked down the road, metres away from the Airbnb. Covered in white powder (used by forensics teams to detect fingerprints), the hatchback was labelled with Queensland Police stickers advising members of the public that authorities were aware of the abandoned vehicle.

Inside, a green plush toy was seen poking out of a brown paper bag from the store KidStuff, that was nestled on the front passenger seat.

Dr Wilkes was a highly regarded specialist who had worked across major Queensland hospitals^[8], including Brisbane’s Princess Alexandra^[9], for the past 13 years.

Police are preparing a report for the Coroner. But questions remain as to where the young girl was being educated given she and her mother never took up residence at a $1.27million Norman Park townhouse Dr Wilkes bought more than two-and-a-half years ago.

Dr Wilkes was officially listed as a resident of Norman Park, but neighbours at her Longfellow Street townhouse told Daily Mail she had never moved into the residence.

For mental health^[10] support, contact the Samaritans on 116 123, email them at jo@samaritans.org^[11] or visit samaritans.org^[12] to find your nearest branch.