Bombshell new details revealed after two young boys found dead in their grandmother's house - rocking a regional Aussie community to its core
Max and Sam Johnson, aged six and seven, were discovered in their Coonabarabran home, in northwest NSW, on May 5. Their grandmother Kathleen Heggs, 66, was subsequently charged with their murder.
Police have now revealed a post-mortem examination carried out on the two boys' bodies found traces of a prescription medication in their systems, according to the Daily Telegraph.
Police will allege Ms Heggs gave her young grandsons the medications before suffocating them with a pillow.
The brothers were asleep in separate bedrooms of Ms Heggs' rural property when the alleged murders took place.
Max and Sam's biological parents Troy and Samantha Johnson are making final plans for their sons' funeral this week, which is to be held in Port Stephens.
Ms Heggs was the sole carer for the two boys and they had moved from near Port Stephens to Coonabarabran about a year ago.
Mr and Mrs Johnson had not seen the boys for five years prior to their deaths.
The boys' father revealed he and his wife decided to let Ms Heggs take care of their sons as they had been struggling with mental health issues.
'This is not how we were meant to get them back,' Mr Johnson said.
'We are completely broken... but those boys deserve a good send off, and that's what we are going to give them.'
Mr Johnson said he was grateful to Coonabarabran locals for sharing their happy memories of his sons.
The boys will be buried in their karate uniforms, along with the yellow belts they were set to receive the week they were allegedly killed.
Last month, police raced to the Coonabarabran property after Ms Heggs allegedly sent a text message to the boys' school to say her the two boys were dead and she intended to take her own life.
After arriving at the farm, police forced their way into the home and found the boys' bodies in different rooms and the woman suffering self-inflicted injuries.
Ms Heggs was treated in a mental health facility for several days following the boys' death before being charged with two counts of murder.
Tragically, the devastated grandfather of the boys told Daily Mail Australia he only discovered that his grandsons were dead when he heard it on the news.
'I had to find out off the news about what happened to them,' he said.
He also said he was upset pictures of the boys had been circulated through the media.
'The photos should never have been released - because they were minors - that was wrong and it has been very upsetting.'
Ms Heggs has not entered pleas and she will front court on July 10.
NSW Police have been contacted for comment.
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