A Teenager’s Descent into Psychosis and the Tragic Consequences
A teenager who was later found to be suffering from severe mental illness, including schizophrenia and acute psychosis, killed a 10-year-old girl in rural New South Wales. The incident has sparked an inquest into the events that led up to the tragedy.
The girl, who was 14 years old at the time, had been experiencing disturbing symptoms of psychosis, including hallucinations and hearing voices. She had also been killing animals on the family property, which her mother initially attributed to a hormonal imbalance. Instead of seeking professional mental health support, the mother turned to a naturopath, believing that the girl’s behavior could be addressed with herbal remedies.
Two weeks before the killing, the teenager had told her mother that she had intrusive thoughts about harming people, including her parents. Despite this, the mother did not consider these signs as urgent red flags. She later admitted that mental health was never on her radar and that she did not understand the importance of seeking help.
The teenager had already shown troubling behavior earlier in 2019 when she slaughtered six chickens on the property. Her parents responded by removing her bedroom door and breaking a video game. However, the mother did not see this as a sign of deeper issues. She only took her concerns to a naturopath, who suggested magnesium supplements for what she believed was a hormonal imbalance.
It wasn’t until the girl revealed her violent thoughts about killing people that the mother considered consulting a doctor. A GP eventually referred her to a psychiatrist in Sydney, but the mother only discovered the referral after it had been sent to her spam folder. One week later, the teenager killed Biddy Porter while the two were left alone in the farmhouse.
Biddy, who was described as a vibrant and creative child, died from multiple injuries on July 8, 2020. The NSW Supreme Court later ruled that the teenager was not criminally responsible for the killing due to her mental illness.
The mother expressed deep regret over the loss of both Biddy and her own daughter, who is currently in custody. She said she wished Biddy’s family could find peace and acknowledged that she could have done more to seek help for her daughter.
The teenager’s maternal grandmother also testified at the inquest, expressing concern over the girl’s behavior after the chicken killings. She urged the mother to seek psychiatric help, stating that the girl was clearly in crisis.
Dr. Peggy Dwyer, counsel assisting the inquest, emphasized that the purpose of the coroners’ court is not to assign blame, but to learn from the tragedy to better support families and healthcare professionals in the future.
Schizophrenia in teenagers is extremely rare, and the inquest has highlighted the challenges of identifying and addressing mental health issues in young people. The case underscores the need for greater awareness and access to mental health resources.
The inquest continues before NSW State Coroner Teresa O’Sullivan.
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, help is available:
- Lifeline: 13 11 14
- Kids Helpline: 1800 55 1800 (for people aged 5 to 25)
