Tragic death of teen girl in Ballarat squat house sparks concerns about child protection

A 17-year-old girl found dead alongside her 26-year-old boyfriend in a squat house in Ballarat had been under child protection and was living in residential care.

Mia, whose grandmother Michelle described her as a child who loved to dress up and sing along to songs, was found dead on June 22 in a house with no running water or power.

The coroner heard that Mia and her boyfriend, Marcus, died from carbon monoxide poisoning, believed to have come from a barbecue or grill in the room, with their bodies surrounded by drug paraphernalia.

A troubled past

Mia had been living in residential care since she was 14, a state-run last resort for children who could not live at home.

Michelle said Mia had a normal childhood until COVID-19, when she was in grade 6, but "then everything went south for her".

Michelle alleged that two days before her death, Mia's bed at her residential care facility was closed with less than a day's notice.

"Why would they shut her bed?" Michelle said.

"She didn't die from drug use, she died from neglect. In state care, this has been allowed to happen. She was found dead in a squat house."

Abuse and neglect

Mia was raised by her grandmother due to her mother's drug dependence and being in an abusive relationship.

Michelle said Mia's life started to derail when an older man began targeting her when she was 14.

"He would beat her black and blue," Michelle said.

The coroner's court has heard that while under the care of the state, Mia had gone missing 94 times, had a "complex mental health history", and took drugs like GHB and methylamphetamine.

Investigation ongoing

The ongoing coronial inquest has heard Mia was subject to care by secretary order, meaning the state government retained total legal guardianship.

Victoria Police is expected to deliver its findings to the court in November.

A Department of Families, Fairness and Housing spokesperson said that as the matter was before the Coroners Court, they were not able to comment, but that "the death of any child is tragic".

Methamphetamine was found in Mia's system after she died.