- Neighbours break their silence about life at the Carrs Island home
- The stepmum's rugby club past and surprising personal history
- 'Not doing well': The devastating toll on Archie's biological mother
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Neighbours → break → mother
The parents of five-year-old Archie Ranger, found dead after allegedly being duct-taped inside a sleeping bag in the NSW Northern Rivers region, can now be named.
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parents → find → region
Police are investigating the suspicious death of Archie at his home on Carrs Island, north-west of Grafton, on October 12.
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Police → investigate → October
Officers allegedly discovered Archie and his two siblings had been duct-taped into sleeping bags, with tape placed over their eyes at night.
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tape → discover → night
Archie, reportedly disabled and born with eye misalignment, was found unresponsive and could not be revived.
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Archie → disable → misalignment
Police claim Archie had duct-tape wrapped around his head and were allegedly told it was to 'assist him sleeping'.
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it → claim → him
Archie's father, Neil Ranger, and stepmother, Stephanie Luhrmann, are local residents who both work at Big River Glass, where Ms Luhrmann is understood to be an office manager.
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Luhrmann → work → Glass
Mr Ranger and Ms Luhrmann, who were home at the time, have been interviewed by investigators.
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who → interview → investigators
Potential charges will be considered after a post-mortem examination to determine how Archie died.
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Archie → consider → examination
Stephanie Luhrmann and Neil Ranger are pictured with his late son Archie and two children
Police said potential charges may be laid following Archie's post-mortem
Archie was just five years old when he died
Police attended the semi-rural property at Carrs Island on Monday, October 12
The Daily Mail understands Ms Luhrmann and Mr Ranger are receiving medical care and a mental health assessment as their son undergoes a post-mortem.
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son → picture → mortem
It is also understood that Archie's biological mother is 'not doing well', and his brother and stepsister are now in the care of other family members.
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brother → understand → members
It's understood officers had previously been called to the home in 2025 and raised concerns about what was happening there with NSW Department of Communities and Justice officials.
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what → understand → officials
Despite this, Ms Luhrmann frequently documented on social media what appeared to be an idyllic semi-rural life in the Clarence River region, alongside Mr Ranger and their blended family.
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what → document → Ranger
Several TikTok videos show the children dancing in the kitchen and playing in the yard, along with regular boating and beach trips.
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children → show → trips
Ms Luhrmann, whose parents live in Grafton, played for the local Redmen rugby club and was previously involved in relationships with women.
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parents → live → women
A neighbour told the Daily Mail she and Mr Ranger lived at the Carrs Island Road home for 'just over a year', but 'kept to themselves'.
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she → tell → themselves
Ms Luhrmann frequently documented what appeared to be an idyllic semi-rural life
Archie is seen dancing in the family kitchen with his older stepsister
The home in Carrs Island near Grafton is rented at $400 per week
Archie was allegedly found inside a sleeping bag, with his head duct-taped
Property records show the address, which sits along the banks of the Clarence River, is leased at $400 per week.
Calls to Ms Luhrmann and her parents, Kenneth and Jeanette, who live locally, went unanswered on Monday morning.
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who → document → morning
In April, Ms Luhrmann launched a business named Luhrmann & Co Farm, posting an AI-generated image of a man, woman, two boys and a girl to Facebook.
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Luhrmann → launch → Facebook
Last month, she updated the cover photo with an AI image showing the woman to be pregnant.
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woman → update → image
The page, which promotes a hobby farm featuring chickens and cats, has just 47 followers.
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which → promote → followers
'Life on our little farm is busy and full of love, with early mornings, muddy boots and happy chaos,' the page's description reads.
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description → read → mornings
'Raising my three kids alongside our chickens, every day brings laughter, lessons and memories.'
Ms Luhrmann also appeared to be attempting a career as a cooking influencer, frequently sharing posts about what she was making for her kids' dinners.
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she → raise → dinners
An exterior view of the rented Carrs Island home is shown
Ms Luhrmann shared a post to TikTok referring to past troubles
Archie was born with eye misalignment and wore glasses
She hinted at troubles in her life, posting in April: 'Sometimes I sit with all the choices I've made and wish I had been the person I am now, back then.
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I → rent → choices
I regret the moments I didn't show up better, the chances I didn't take, and most of all... losing you.
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I → regret → you
Some things stay with you, no matter how much time passes.
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time → stay → you
Grafton locals are calling for the community to hold a memorial vigil for Archie, with one person suggesting a march around Carrs Island in his honour.
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person → call → honour
Mr Ranger's Facebook page has been flooded with furious comments over the loss of his son.
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page → flood → son
Homicide Squad and Child Abuse Squad detectives have joined local investigators at the crime scene as part of Strike Force Milona to oversee inquiries into how the boy died.
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boy → join → inquiries
A NSW Police spokesperson told the Daily Mail that emergency services were called to the Grafton home at about 6.40am on October 12 following reports a boy had been found unresponsive.
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boy → tell → reports
'Officers attached to Coffs/Clarence Police District attended the scene and commenced CPR on the boy,' the spokesperson said.
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spokesperson → attach → boy
An AI image shared by Ms Luhrmann on a business account indicated she was pregnant
'
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she → share → account
NSW Ambulance paramedics attended a short time later; however, were unable to revive the five-year-old.
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paramedics → attend → old
'A crime scene was established and inquiries into the circumstances surrounding the boy's death are underway.'
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inquiries → establish → death
The NSW Department of Communities and Justice is also investigating.
'
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Department → investigate → Communities
Our heartfelt condolences go out to those who knew and loved this child,' a spokesperson said.
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spokesperson → go → child
'DCJ is working with NSW Police on their inquiries, and given the ongoing investigation, it would be inappropriate to comment further.
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it → work → investigation
A police spokesperson told the Daily Mail on Monday morning that there was 'no update to provide at this stage'.
Do you know more?
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you → tell → more
Email karleigh.smith@dailymail.com.au
Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.
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we → email → article
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