Woman charged over infant death previously reported missing interstate

On October 10, 2026, South Australian Police attended the Tollgate Motel in Glen Osmond to investigate a reported infant death. Emergency services were called around 9am and remained on the scene with approximately 20 officers until mid-afternoon. The baby was found dead inside a motel room under blankets, with incense burning nearby to mask any smell.

The cause of the child's death is undetermined as of October 13, but police confirmed that Benjamin Nicholas Houghton (40) and Yue Ning Lieu (42) had been living at the motel since early in the year and were charged with criminal neglect and concealing human remains to pervert the course of justice. Lieu was reportedly sharing disturbing posts on social media prior to her arrest, including claims about being spied upon.

Both Houghton and Lieu appeared before Adelaide Magistrates Court on Monday via a bedside hearing and were remanded in custody until May 3, 2027, without applying for bail. Police have taken over the investigation with the Major Crime Investigation Branch due to the complexity of the case.