Cannibalism to form part of investigation into four-year-old's Wyong death

Warning: This story contains details of an alleged murder, which readers may find distressing.

Cannibalism will form part of the police investigation into the death of a four-year-old boy on the Central Coast, police sources have confirmed.

The boy's mother walked into Wyong Police Station about 4.40pm on Saturday, prompting officers to carry out a welfare check.

Police searched a unit in Wyong and found the body of a four-year-old child.

A 32-year-old woman has been charged with domestic violence murder and refused bail. She cannot be identified.

Court documents show police obtained an urgent order before the woman was charged, allowing forensic examination of her mouth.

The order allowed samples to be taken from the woman's internal mouth contents and forensic material, along with a buccal swab. It also allowed samples from her nails and material under her nails.

Tuggerah Lakes District Superintendent Chad Gillies said on Sunday police were seeking information about the woman and child.

He said the child had injuries, but would not speculate further on them. Police said the woman was known to them.

Police also said the mother and child lived together at the unit, and that nobody else was understood to have lived there.

The NSW Department of Communities and Justice said it had previously had contact with the family and would examine all relevant information.

Shadow Minister for Families and Communities Natasha Maclaren-Jones said the death raised serious questions about children reported at risk going unseen because of caseworker shortages.

Government frontbencher Penny Sharpe said DCJ was working through its processes. The matter is expected to return to court in September.