Fresh twist in toddler's suspicious death
An arrest has been made in relation to the 2005 death of 21-month-old Jordan Thompson, who died on March 19, 2005, with antidepressants in his system.
Cecil Kennedy, 49, was arrested on Monday afternoon in Sydney over Jordan’s death. Kennedy was the partner of Jordan’s mother, Bernice Swales, when Swales left Jordan in Kennedy’s care while she left to run errands. She returned home to find Jordan unresponsive and rushed him to Singleton Base Hospital, but he could not be revived.
A statement issued by NSW Police said that police were told Jordan had been found face down in the bathtub, but that a post mortem later found a lethal dose of antidepressants in his system.
A coronial inquest was established in 2008, and in 2018 Deputy State Coroner Elaine Truscott found that Jordan died because he had been deliberately administered anti-depressant medication.
Homicide Squad detectives established Strike Force Kyeama to investigate the circumstances surrounding Jordan’s death. In 2015, Deputy Premier and Minister for Police Troy Grant said Jordan’s family deserve closure, adding “It’s now been just over a decade since Jordan died, and yet his mother and family still don’t know have any answers about his death.”
Following further investigations and the offer of a $100,000 reward for more information, Kennedy was arrested at his home in Doonside and taken to Blacktown Police Station where charges are expected to be laid.
Speaking to A Current Affair after the arrest, Ms Swales said she appreciated all the work the police had done: “I'm really grateful for all of the work that has been done for my son. I just want to say thank you, a special thank you to the detective who made this and worked very hard and made sure he never gave up, he never gave up and I'm so grateful for all the work that's been put in.”
Image: NSW Police