The bodies of Kate Paterson and her 11-month-old daughter April were found in a nearby Belivah home on the morning of March 12 after what began as a routine traffic incident five kilometres away.
Police were initially called to a traffic incident on Beaudesert Beenleigh Road at Bannockburn about 7.30am on March 12, following reports a man had been hit by a vehicle. It will be alleged the man attended the location after leaving a nearby Belivah address, Queensland Police said.
According to Detective Superintendent Chris Ahearn, several witnesses said Seers appeared to already have injuries before he was struck: "There are some witness accounts that suggest he was running towards where he was hit by the car and already had some injuries to the neck area."
Police have since charged Blake Seers, Ms Paterson's fiance and the child's father, with two counts of murder. Police have confirmed both mother and daughter had suffered stab wounds. The man continues to receive medical treatment in hospital and is due to appear via video link at Brisbane Magistrates Court on March 18, a Queensland Police spokesperson said.
Paterson was a teacher at Windaroo State School, who had just returned from maternity leave. The family of three were just about to celebrate their daughter's first birthday and their wedding when tragedy unexpectedly struck.
Community support has been swift. A candlelit vigil for Ms Paterson and her baby girl was held on Friday evening by her neighbours, friends and those from her school community. A flower-laying ceremony was also held, with a tree decorated with flowers and stuffed toys in their memories.
The news devastated the small Windaroo community, just south east of Brisbane, and Windaroo State School, where Ms Paterson had just recently returned to teaching from maternity leave.
According to police records, no domestic violence orders had previously been in place involving the couple. In 2023-24, there were 19 identified family and domestic violence homicides in Queensland, with 68%, all females, having a known history of family and domestic violence. The absence of any documented history in this case underscores how quickly circumstances can escalate without warning signs that might trigger intervention.
Detective Superintendent Chris Ahearn said detectives believe Seers deliberately ran in front of the moving car after leaving the house. The investigation remains ongoing, with police examining the relationship between the couple and the circumstances leading to the deaths.