The United States is not the only country in the world that allows foster children to slip through the cracks. It’s a heartbreaking thing to see no matter where in the world it occurs. If children are in the foster care system, their stories are likely traumatic enough. In fact, a study found that youths in foster care, in particular, have a 90% rate of trauma exposure. These children need dogged advocates who treat each case with equal care. Even though I know the system is likely strained by poor pay and understaffed employees, the reality is that when it comes to kids, there’s no excuse.
That is why people in Australia are up in arms over two children, aged 12 and 14, who were living with a convicted murderer for months undetected, according to People.
The children were reportedly living in the same home as convicted killer Regina Arthurell, 79.
Arthurell, who was formerly named Reginald but has since identified as a trans woman, was formally removed from the home, according to the Australian radio show 2GB Sydney. In 1995, she was sentenced to 24 years in prison for taking a piece of wood and bludgeoning her partner, Venet Raylee Mulhall, to death and was officially released in November 2020. Prior to that, The Guardian reported, she had not one but two manslaughter convictions dating back to 1974 and 1981.
The wildest thing is that the Australian government was reportedly aware the children were in this situation as of December 2025 and did not remove them or Arthurell until nearly three months later on March 9, 2026.
It was 2GB Sydney that uncovered the bizarre living situation.
A woman claiming to be the daughter of a woman living with Arthurell called in to the station. Arthurell reportedly met the elderly woman at a hospital and was invited to stay in her foster home. She claims, per The Guardian, that she tried to contact government departments in 2025 about the children’s living situation, as well as the New South Wales Police and Corrective Services.
Minister for Families and Communities Kate Washington apologized in a statement to the station.
“What you’ve uncovered is shocking and the scenario that these kids were in should never have been allowed,” Washington shared with the radio program, per People. “It should never have happened and I’m deeply apologetic for what has happened. Something has gone terribly wrong here.
“It’s really regrettable that the family had to resort to raising it with you to see action, but I’m so glad that they did because now we have acted and I want to reassure you that that person is no longer living in that house,” Washington added.
She went on to admit that the agency had apparently known since December and acknowledged that some “very poor decisions” were made at the time. She promised they’d be reviewing the entire timeline.
Apparently Arthurell is now living in a private accommodation.
What’s even stranger is the New South Wales police department actually visited the home in February for a domestic disturbance between two men aged 33 and 44. Arthurell was not present at the time of the dispute and no charges were made.
“Police have been unable to locate any other reports. The living situation is not a police matter and [police] are unable to comment,” a New South Wales Police spokesperson told The Guardian.
Arthurell’s parole ran out in 2021 and was extended to include alcohol rehabilitation. People are now calling for Washington’s resignation.
