Western Australia Police Investigation into the Bentley Homicide
Western Australia Police are investigating the death of a 35-year-old mother in Bentley, Perth, as a suspected family violence homicide. Her 16-year-old son is in custody following the incident on Tuesday, July 21, 2026. A 12-year-old girl, also injured, remains in serious but stable condition at Perth Children’s Hospital.
Police Investigation at Mills Street
Emergency services were called to a residence on Mills Street in Bentley. Upon arrival, officers discovered the 35-year-old woman inside the house with fatal stab wounds. Despite the efforts of emergency responders, she could not be saved. Investigators have established two separate crime scenes: the Mills Street property, which remains cordoned off, and a location about 600 metres away near the Albany Highway, where the injured 12-year-old girl was discovered.
The 12-year-old girl managed to escape the Mills Street property after sustaining injuries. Detective Acting Inspector Jessica Securo of the WA Police stated, So she was injured at the Mills Street residence as well and she's been able to flee that area and contact police.
The girl was found near the highway, where passing motorists stopped to help before paramedics arrived. Inspector Securo thanked members of the public who called the ambulance and provided the girl with what she described as life-saving care.
Detective Acting Inspector Jessica Securo’s Briefing on the 16-Year-Old Suspect
Status of the 16-Year-Old Suspect
The woman’s 16-year-old son was arrested on Tuesday morning. As of the latest reports, no charges have yet been laid. Police have not publicly disclosed the precise circumstances of the arrest or detailed what role they believe the boy may have played in the incident. Because the suspect is a minor, strict legal restrictions apply to the publication of identifying information.
Regarding the status of the investigation, Detective Acting Inspector Securo stated: “A 16-year-old male who is the son of the deceased female and the brother of the injured girl has been taken into police custody. While the investigation remains in its early stages, police are investigating this as a suspected family violence homicide and homicide squad have carriage.”
Inspector Securo stated that police believe the woman and her two children lived at the home together. Authorities are now examining all available evidence and any past interactions the family had with police. That will form part of our investigation, to look at all incidents involving police, support services and what led to this incident occurring,
she said. Detectives are currently doorknocking nearby homes, seeking witnesses, and reviewing CCTV, doorbell camera recordings, and dashcam footage from the area. Police confirmed they do not believe any other person was involved.
Community Impact and Ongoing Response
Local residents expressed shock at the event. Neighbour David Walters said police woke him up to check his CCTV and asked if he had heard anything during the night. I'm pretty sad for the family, that's a bad thing,
he said.
Inspector Securo emphasized that there is no ongoing risk to the wider community. She acknowledged the “confrontingnature of the incident and its broader effects, noting:
This incident will have a significant impact on the family, friends and loved ones of all those involved, as well as the broader community.”
Australian Education Union Victoria Rejection of Government Pay Offer
Separate Industrial Action in Victoria
Teachers across Victoria are set to walk off the job on Thursday, disrupting the first week of the new term. Australian Education Union (AEU) Victoria president Justin Mullaly declared that members will not work on Thursday after rejecting a pay offer of a 28.3 per cent raise over four years.
In a ballot that ended on Tuesday, 50,677 union members voted, with 51.18 per cent rejecting the offer while 48.82 per cent voted in favour. Mullaly stated, If they want Victoria to be the education state, then they need to fund us like we’re the education state and deliver the pay and conditions that our members deserve and that we need.
Independent Education Union Solidarity at Bourke Street Mall Rally
The AEU plans to hold a rally at Melbourne’s Bourke Street Mall at 10:30am on Thursday before marching to Victorian Parliament House. Independent Education Union (IEU) General Secretary David Brear stated that IEU members would stand in solidarity with the AEU, citing excessive workloads, workforce shortages and the urgent need for salaries and conditions that properly value their work.
This strike follows a March action where more than 30,000 teachers from approximately 500 schools walked off the job, marking the first time the state’s teachers had walked off the job since 2013.
Sources: ABC News & Headlines – Australian Broadcasting Corporation, nine.com.au.
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