Detectives investigating the death of a toddler more than 15 years ago in the state’s Hunter Region have charged a man with manslaughter.
Jordan William Thompson was 21 months old when his mum, Bernice Swales, went to run some errands, leaving him in the care of her then partner during the afternoon of Thursday 19 March 2005.
When she returned home, Jordan was unresponsive. She rushed him across the road to Singleton Base Hospital, but he could not be revived.
Police were told Jordan had been found face down in the bathtub; however, a post-mortem later found high levels of a prescription medication used to treat depression in his system.
Detectives from the State Crime Command’s Homicide Squad established Strike Force Kyeama to investigate the circumstances surrounding Jordan’s death.
A Coronial Inquest commenced in 2008 and resumed in 2015, with Deputy State Coroner Elaine Truscott finding in 2018 that Jordan died because he had been deliberately administered anti-depressant medication.
Following further extensive investigations, and a NSW Government $100,000 reward for information, Strike Force Kyeama detectives arrested a 49-year-old man at a home at Doonside about 5pm today (Monday 27 September 2021).
He was taken to Blacktown Police Station and charged with manslaughter.
The Singleton man was refused bail and is due to appear at Blacktown Local Court tomorrow (Tuesday 28 September 2021).
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