Dad left daughter, 4, dead in cot for two days as her body was attacked by rats
A GIRL with Down's Syndrome had her face eaten by rats after her dad left her to die of starvation in her cot, allege cops in Australia.
The decomposing body of Willow Dunn, four, lay in the cot for days and was covered in sores so deep that her bones were exposed, say Brisbane police.
Cops have charged Willow's dad, Mark Dunn, 43, with murder after being called to their Cannon Hill home on Monday.
The New Zealander allegedly told police that he had found his daughter dead - with her face attacked by rodents - in her bedroom on Saturday.
But he did not contact emergency services until days later.
The Australian reported that the dead girl was left to rot in her cot, where rats later mauled her face.
Cops allege that she was left to starve to death in agony, with burns to her scalp and deep infected sores that exposed her hip bones.
Dunn allegedly asked paramedics arriving at their home: "I'm in trouble, aren't I?"
It's believed that his little girl died on or about May 23, according to court documents.
A post-mortem report will determine whether she had been dead for more than three days, after forensic police indicated she appeared very malnourished.
It's also not known whether she had medication withheld from her.
Willow had been living in Cannon Hill, a suburb of Brisbane, with her father and stepmother - who has not been charged in relation to the death.
The girl's biological mum died of complications during childbirth.
The Courier-Mail reported that neighbours had no idea there was a young girl at the house, as they had never seen her at the property.
Forensic officers have been at the scene this week, where they were photographed searching the property, including examining a vehicle in the driveway, and sifting through a rubbish bin.
Brisbane police confirmed in a statement that "a 43-year-old man has been charged with murder following the death of a four-year-old girl at Cannon Hill".
Cops said they were called after she was found dead, and "a crime scene was immediately declared.
"The Cannon Hill man has been denied police bail and is due to appear in Brisbane Magistrates' Court tomorrow.
"Police are appealing to anyone with information to come forward as investigations continue."
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The Department of Child Safety confirmed to the Courier-Mail that officials had been in contact with the family about Willow.
Liberal National Party shadow police minister Dan Purdie said her death raised "serious questions" about child protection.
He said: "The big question in such a horrific case of alleged neglect is how a vulnerable young child has slipped through the cracks and how this could have been prevented."
The case has been adjourned until July 20.
