2 Foster Children Found Living in Same Home as Triple Convicted Killer, Government Apologizes for Not Removing Them Sooner

Two foster children, aged 12 and 14, have been living with a convicted murderer, Regina Arthurell, until authorities acted to remove her from the home. The situation, which has garnered significant media attention, has prompted apologies from Australian officials, who have described the circumstances as “unacceptable.”

Regina Arthurell, who is now 79 years old, was previously known as Reginald and has a history of violent offences. Her most notable conviction was for the murder of Venet Raylee Mulhall in 1995, for which she was sentenced to 24 years in prison. Following her release in November 2020, she resumed her life in the community, despite a long history of serious criminal behaviour, including two previous manslaughter convictions in the 1970s and early 1980s.

Concerns over the foster children’s safety in the home came to the forefront when their situation was reported back in December. However, it was only on March 9 that officials finally removed Arthurell from the household. The delayed response has incited strong reactions, particularly from families and community members who expected a more immediate action to ensure the children’s welfare.

Kate Washington, the Minister for Families and Communities, expressed her regret in a statement to the radio show 2GB Sydney, calling the revelations “shocking.” Washington emphasised the inadequacy of the response from the relevant authorities, stating, “This should never have happened, and I’m deeply apologetic for what has transpired.” She acknowledged the distressing circumstances that led the family to take their concerns to the media as a last resort.

In a further attempt to address the situation, a woman claiming to be the daughter of Arthurell’s housemate reached out to government officials in 2025 with worries about the children’s living conditions. Despite her efforts to alert authorities, neither the New South Wales (NSW) Police nor Corrective Services took immediate action at the time.

Following the removal of Arthurell, she has taken up residence in private accommodation. This significant move has led officials to initiate a review process to assess the actions of the Department of Communities and Justice. Michael Tidball, the department’s secretary, stated that he only became aware of the issues on the Monday prior to the removal. He pledged to conduct a swift and thorough review of the circumstances leading to this incident.

Washington did highlight that the department had been made aware of the situation back in late December, but admitted that “poor decisions” had been made regarding the case. The Minister revealed that the examination will cover the entire timeline of events to identify where the failures occurred.

This disturbing instance raises vital questions about the oversight and procedures within the foster care system, particularly regarding placements involving individuals with a violent past. With Arthurell’s parole having expired in 2021 and an extended supervision order that required her to undergo alcohol rehabilitation, the public is left to wonder how she came to be placed in a situation with vulnerable children.

Authorities have also noted that a police visit was conducted to Arthurell’s home on February 11 due to an unrelated domestic incident involving two men. However, this visit did not result in any charges against Arthurell, as she was not present at the time. A police spokesperson confirmed that the living arrangements fell outside their jurisdiction, limiting their ability to comment further on the situation.

As reviews and investigations continue, the voices of advocacy groups and community members are likely to amplify calls for systemic reforms to ensure that vulnerable children are protected from potential dangers posed by their living environments. The outcome of this incident remains to be seen, but the commitment from officials to thoroughly investigate the failures highlighted suggests an acknowledgment of the need for urgent action to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future.