A man in northern New South Wales has been charged with murdering two relatives at the same rural property, with the incidents occurring approximately two weeks apart. Authorities discovered the body of a 59-year-old man on Monday afternoon inside a shed at a residence in Gurranang, about 25 kilometers north of Grafton. This came as police were continuing their investigation following the earlier discovery of a 79-year-old man’s body inside a home on the same property two weeks prior.

Detective Superintendent Joe Doueihi confirmed on Wednesday that the victims were related. He said the younger man had recently traveled to New South Wales to assist police with their inquiries and to manage the estate of the older deceased relative. Police allege that the 59-year-old was attacked by a neighbor at the property during this time.

Authorities have identified 32-year-old Nicholas Scott, a neighboring resident, as the suspect in both murders. Scott was apprehended at a Grafton hospital on Tuesday around midday, where he was undergoing medical treatment. He was subsequently taken to Grafton police station and charged with two counts of murder as well as stealing a motor vehicle.

Scott appeared briefly before a magistrate on Wednesday morning and did not seek bail. He remains in custody and is scheduled to appear again in court in December.

Superintendent Joanne Schultz described the scene at the property as extremely confronting and traumatic for first responders, noting that police had initially visited the location to conduct further inquiries without anticipating finding another body. Police estimate the 59-year-old died within 24 to 48 hours before his body was found, two weeks after investigators first attended the property for the initial death.

Supt Schultz noted that the crime scene was not secured for the entire period since the first victim’s death. Both men appeared to have sustained similar injuries, though authorities have not provided detailed descriptions.

The investigation is ongoing under Strike Force Faneel as police continue to gather evidence and seek to clarify the circumstances surrounding the two deaths.