New details have emerged of how a young girl with a rare genetic disorder was ‘extremely emaciated’ and allegedly received ‘insufficient’ care prior to her death.
Tiffani Scholten, 12 was found unresponsive on the Gold Coast on April 18, 2022 and was later declared dead at the Coomera residence.
Detectives launched Operation Uniform Zoysia to investigate the circumstances of her death.
The breakthrough emerged on Tuesday when police arrested and charged a man and woman who were allegedly Tiffani’s guardians at the time of her death.
Carrissa Kaye Scholten, 36, and Aaron Paul Richardson, 37, were charged with a single count of murder.
The pair didn’t appear in Southport Magistrates Court when their matters were first mentioned on Tuesday afternoon.
Police will allege Tiffani’s death was the result of insufficient care.
They told reporters at a press conference on Tuesday that emergency responders faced confronting scenes on the night they were called to the home in 2022.
‘Queensland Ambulance service attended the address and was confronted with an extremely emaciated child that unfortunately had passed away,’ Gold Coast District Vulnerable Persons Unit Detective Inspector Paul Fletcher told reporters
‘It was a very confronting scene when they got to the address for both the ambulance officers and police as well, and I think anything that involves a child is always traumatic for people to deal with no matter what their profession.’
Police allege the care for Tiffani Scholten (pictured) was ‘insufficient and directly related to her death’, after her guardians were charged with murder
Tiffani was found unresponsive and ‘extremely emaciated’ at a Coomera home on the Gold Coast in April 2022. Pictured are police are the scene
‘The evidence that they gained showed that the care for this child was allegedly insufficient and directly related to her death.’
It’s understood Tiffani had medical issues including Rett syndrome, a rare condition that affects brain development.
Inspector Fletcher confirmed paediatricians, child specialists and other experts were ‘relied upon’ during the two year investigation, and agreed a large part of the investigation was determining the cause of Tiffani’s death was separate to her medical conditions.
‘A lot of background investigations and evidence had to be gathered due to some medical complications of the young girl which added to the time it took to gather that evidence,’ he said.
‘It had a number of complexities to it which added to that time delay but in these matters, they’re of a very serious nature so we don’t leave any stone unturned.
‘Any type of medical condition has to be examined thoroughly and we have to rely on experts to provide information to police to assist us.’
Inspector Fletcher earlier revealed the investigation had caused significant distress for officers.
‘The investigation into the death of this young girl has been one of the most heartwrenching and complex we’ve had to conduct,’ he said.
Tiffani Scholten (pictured) suffered from a number of medical conditions, including Rhett Syndrome
‘From the moment the investigation commenced, our priority has been to seek justice for this innocent child.
‘It is deeply distressing to investigate the death of any child, but the circumstances surrounding this case have been particularly confronting for our officers.
‘Our detectives have worked diligently, using every resource available to ensure we could bring this investigation to a close.’
‘We understand the grief and pain this has caused the community, and to those who knew and loved this young girl,’ he said.
A full brief of evidence has been ordered to be prepared by October 25.
Scholten and Richardson’s matters will be mentioned again on November 8.
Both were excused from appearing.
Court documents for Scholten reveal she still lives in Coomera — where police allege the murder took place — and her occupation is listed as ‘unemployed’.
Richardson now lives in Redland Bay and his employment is listed as ‘unknown’.
A man and woman were charged with murder on Tuesday- two years after Tiffani died
Forensic crews are seen at the home (pictured) on the Gold Coast in 2022
Detective Senior Sergeant Greg Aubort earlier said police had received ‘various levels of co-operation’ from the family.
He also confirmed police had never been to the home or encountered Tiffani before her death.
‘We’re in consultation with pediatric specialists and experts in the field of the (medical) conditions (Tiffani suffered from),’ he said.
‘It’s certainly a case that we need to separate the implications of the medical conditions that Tiffani was suffering from and any other possible factors that may be contributing to the death.’
