🚨 MIDLOW ROAD INVESTIGATION: Forensic Teams Piece Together Baby Cohen’s Final Hours as 31-Year-Old Woman Held in Custody

By Crime Reporter Sarah Mitchell Adelaide, Thursday 5 March 2026

Elizabeth Downs residents woke to a sombre scene on Midlow Road this morning as forensic officers in white suits combed every inch of a modest brick home and its driveway. The tight-knit northern suburb is reeling after the death of nine-month-old Cohen, whose tiny body was found unresponsive inside a family minivan just metres from safety.

A 31-year-old woman who lives at the property is now in custody, facing serious charges of criminal neglect. Police confirmed late last night she was taken into custody after fresh evidence emerged during the investigation.

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Homes along Midlow Road in Elizabeth Downs, where neighbours say the street was once filled with children’s laughter. Now silence hangs heavy over the driveway where tragedy struck.

Emergency services were called to the Midlow Road address at 8pm Wednesday following a frantic triple-zero call. Paramedics arrived within minutes but found the nine-month-old boy already cold to the touch. Despite exhaustive resuscitation attempts in the driveway, Cohen could not be revived.

“They arrived to find the nine-month-old boy cold, and the truth behind his death is even darker,” a senior police source told The Advertiser on condition of anonymity.

Detectives from the Major Crime branch are now laser-focused on the “missing hours” — the critical period between late afternoon and the 8pm emergency call. Forensic teams spent Thursday morning photographing the minivan, swabbing surfaces, and examining the home’s interior for clues about how the infant came to be left alone in the vehicle.

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Forensic officers and police at similar crime scenes, meticulously documenting evidence as they are doing on Midlow Road today.

Neighbours described chaotic scenes on Wednesday night: parents running door-to-door, desperate cries of “Where’s Cohen?”, and the heartbreaking sight of a mother collapsing beside the minivan as paramedics worked under flashing blue lights.

“I heard the screams first,” said one resident who asked not to be named. “Then everyone was outside. The poor little boy was just lying there. It’s every parent’s worst nightmare.”

Another neighbour added: “We’ve all left kids in the car for two minutes to grab milk or check the letterbox. But this… this was hours. The whole street wants answers.”

Police have not released the woman’s name or her exact relationship to Cohen, but sources confirm she is the primary carer. She was initially bailed after her first court appearance but was re-arrested yesterday afternoon after detectives uncovered new information about the timeline.

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Mini parked on driveway hi-res stock photography and images – Alamy

A family minivan similar to the one parked in the Midlow Road driveway where little Cohen was found unresponsive.

The investigation has taken a darker turn, with officers examining whether Cohen was deliberately left or simply forgotten during what should have been routine evening activities. Mobile phone data, doorbell footage from nearby homes, and witness statements are being scrutinised to reconstruct the afternoon.

South Australia Police Superintendent Mark Thompson appealed for public help: “We need anyone who saw activity at the Midlow Road property between 2pm and 8pm yesterday to come forward immediately. Every minute counts in piecing together what happened to this innocent child.”

The case has sparked raw emotion across Elizabeth Downs, a suburb known for its family-friendly streets and community spirit. Local playgroups have cancelled sessions, and a makeshift memorial of flowers and teddy bears is growing at the end of Midlow Road.

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Elizabeth Magistrates Court building | Playford’s Past

The Elizabeth Magistrates Court, where the 31-year-old woman is expected to face further mentions as the investigation deepens.

Child safety advocates say the tragedy highlights a disturbing trend. “Even in mild Adelaide autumn weather, a car can become an oven in under 10 minutes,” said Kidsafe SA spokesperson Lisa Harrington. “But when hours pass, the outcome is almost always fatal.”

The hot car warning poster campaign has been shared thousands of times online since news broke.

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Never leave kids in cars | Better Health Channel

Official safety campaign reminding parents: “Can a child really be forgotten and left in a car?” — a message now tragically relevant in Elizabeth Downs.

As forensic analysis continues at the Forensic Science Centre, the community’s demand for answers grows louder. Parents are questioning how such a lapse could occur in a quiet street where everyone knows each other’s cars and routines.

The 31-year-old remains in custody at the Adelaide Women’s Prison and will reappear in Elizabeth Magistrates Court next week. Charges of criminal neglect causing death carry a maximum penalty of life imprisonment in South Australia.

For now, Midlow Road is a street in mourning. Neighbours say they will never forget the sound of those desperate screams on Wednesday night — or the tiny boy whose life ended far too soon in a parked minivan just metres from home.

Police urge anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.