Allyson McConnell, the woman convicted of manslaughter in the bathtub drownings of her two young sons south of Edmonton, has reportedly been found dead under a bridge in Australia, according to local media reports citing police sources.
A woman's body was discovered Wednesday morning on rocks beneath Brian McGowan Bridge on Australia's central coast.
Australian news organizations say police sources have told them the body is McConnell's. An official announcement from police is expected later today.
Australia's New South Wales police force released a statement saying the woman would not be identified until later this week, though she is believed to be a 35-year-old woman from Gosford.
Police have reportedly told Australian news outlets that the death is not considered suspicious.
In response to a media report about the suspected discovery, Alberta's deputy premier Thomas Lukaszuk tweeted, "Mental health illness makes victims of all. Sad end to what already was a tragedy..."

History of suicide attempts, trial told

McConnell, an Australian national, was convicted of manslaughter in April 2012 in the deaths of her sons, 2½-year-old Connor and 10-month-old Jayden, in Millet, Alta.
The same day, McConnell drove to Edmonton and jumped off a freeway overpass, seriously injuring herself.
si-mcconnell-family
Curtis and Allyson McConnell, with sons Connor and Jayden, in an undated photo. (Facebook)
A judge sentenced McConnell to six years in prison, with credit for time already served.
Her trial was told McConnell had a history of depression and suicide attempts that began when her father got her pregnant when she was 15.
She testified she would try to kill herself again because she didn't want to get well.
A psychiatrist testified McConnell likely meant to kill herself but was so close to her children that she considered their lives extensions of her own.
She served 15 months in a psychiatric hospital and was deported to Australia shortly after her release in April.
The father of the two dead boys, Curtis McConnell, fought against Allyson's deportation, saying through a released family statement that he feared her deportation to Australia would mean an appeal of her case would never be heard.

Corrections

  • This story has been updated to reflect that Allyson McConnell was released April 2013.
    Sep 18, 2013 2:17 AM E