South Australian police are continuing to investigate the death of an infant discovered at the Tollgate Hotel in Glen Osmond, an inner-south-eastern suburb of Adelaide. Investigators returned to the motel on Friday, 16 October 2026, to conduct further examinations of the room where the child was found.

Emergency services discovered the infant deceased on 10 October after authorities received an anonymous report requesting a welfare check. The discovery prompted a major investigation into the circumstances surrounding the child’s death and the events leading up to it. Two adults, Benjamin Nicholas Houghton, 40, and Yue Ning Lieu, 42, also known as Linda Lieu, have been charged in connection with the investigation. The charges reported include criminal neglect and destroying human remains to pervert the course of justice. These are allegations, and the court process will determine the outcome.

Media reports indicate that the pair had checked into the motel with the infant on 26 January 2026. Investigators are examining the circumstances of their stay and the period before the child was discovered. A post-mortem examination reportedly indicated that the infant, believed to have been approximately six to seven months old, may have died several weeks before being found. The precise timeline remains a matter for investigators.

During the latest examination, major crime officers searched the motel room and catalogued items that could be relevant to the investigation. Reported items included clothing and cash. Investigators have also been speaking with motel staff and other people who may be able to provide information about the occupants’ stay.

The investigation is examining what happened before the infant’s death, when the child died and whether any criminal offences occurred. Police may need to compare forensic findings with witness accounts, records and other available evidence to establish a reliable timeline.

The case has also raised questions about how the infant’s presence and welfare were observed during the motel stay. However, individual accounts and reported observations do not, by themselves, establish criminal responsibility. Conclusions about what happened must be based on evidence assessed through the appropriate legal process. Authorities have not publicly released the infant’s name. Protecting the privacy of the child and avoiding speculation about the family are important while the investigation continues. The charges against the two adults do not constitute findings of guilt. Both are entitled to the presumption of innocence unless the allegations are proven in court. Further details may become available as police complete forensic examinations and court proceedings progress.