On Friday night,NSW Police said they had arrested Nathan Vitakos at a hospital and charged him with murder.
Vitakos allegedly attacked the toddler in a unit in Riverwood on Wednesday afternoon.
Police officers spoke to him on the phone just hours before the incident,sources close to the case said.
Vitakos,who lives in Medlow Bath in the Blue Mountains,was staying with an older female relative in Riverwood this week.
TheHerald has been told Vitakos’ behaviour in the lead-up to the event appeared normal. His contact with police was similarly calm.
But about 4pm Vitakos is alleged to have stabbed the child in the unit bathroom,sources said.
He then turned the knife on himself,police suspect.
It was only after Vitakos’ relative returned to her Washington Avenue unit and found the boy dead,and Vitakos with critical wounds,that the alarm was raised.
Paramedics intubated Vikatos at the scene and took him to hospital. He is now in a stable condition after emergency surgery.
A three-year-old child was found dead and a man,45,was found with critical injuries at a unit in Sydney’s south.
Sources with knowledge of the family situation said Vikatos had only recently arrived in Riverwood. The building is reserved housing for over-50s,locals said.
Vikatos’ neighbours said he spent much of his time in Sydney. The house has been cordoned off with police tape.
One neighbour who spoke on the condition of anonymity said Vikatos had arrived at Medlow Bath earlier this year.
“He was known to the community and seemed nice but ... we didn’t know much,” he said.
“It’s just horrible with what’s happened.”
Forensic police and detectives came and went from the Riverwood apartment complex on Thursday morning.
Sometimes they carried evidence bags,and at other times clipboards and bundles of documents.
Counsellors from a nearby community centre arrived with bouquets of yellow flowers and a white teddy bear. They laid them at the front door and bowed their heads in silence.
“We were all really devastated upon hearing the news and we thought the most appropriate thing we could do was to show our condolences to the family,community and anyone affected,” one counsellor said.
“It’s unbelievable,it’s the worst news you could hear.”
He urged locals to seek counselling at the community centre.
Support is available from the at 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732).Crisis support is available from Lifeline on 13 11 14 and Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636.
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