Rosslyn McQueen, a 30-year-old mother of a toddler and five months pregnant with a baby boy, died suddenly at her home near Bendigo, Victoria, on April 1, 1986. Initially, her death was not treated as suspicious, despite indications that raised concerns among emergency responders and mortuary staff at the time. Nearly three months later, toxicology results revealed she had been poisoned with strychnine, a highly toxic substance typically used as a pesticide, prompting a delayed homicide investigation.

Senior Constable Patrick Bann of Victoria Police attended McQueen’s home on the day of her death. In his 1986 statement, Bann noted the unusual position in which McQueen’s body was found—face-up, draped over a kitchen chair—and recalled discussions with ambulance officers and mortuary personnel, who regarded the death as “odd.” Bann nonetheless did not initiate an investigation, nor did he take statements from those present. He reported no visible signs of violence or suspicion, though it remains unclear what led to this conclusion. As a result, no crime scene was preserved on April 1, a decision that later complicated forensic efforts.

The homicide inquiry officially began on June 25, following the toxicology report identifying strychnine poisoning. Detective Senior Sergeant Ron Blackshaw led the investigation, calling in forensic scientist John Moushall and his team to conduct a detailed search of the McQueen residence. Moushall, who had previously worked on high-profile cases including the exoneration of Lindy Chamberlain, described the difficulties posed by the extensive delay in securing the scene.

During their examination, the forensic team searched for strychnine crystals or residue in the home, including food items, a white powder container, an emulsion bottle, and even a nightshade tree in the garden. They also sampled carpet fibers to test theories about whether McQueen's body had been moved after death. However, no physical trace of the poison or its container was found. Moushall stressed that the time elapsed — almost three months — had likely led to the loss or contamination of crucial evidence.

Ambulance officer Kevin Davis and others noted the unusual, contorted position of McQueen’s body at the scene, with her back arched sharply, a posture sometimes called the “London arch,” consistent with muscle spasms caused by strychnine poisoning. Moushall explained that strychnine induces rapid symptoms within an hour and typically causes death by asphyxiation within a few hours, a process described as particularly agonizing.

Investigators theorized that the strychnine might have been introduced through iron tablets that McQueen was taking during her pregnancy. Because strychnine is intensely bitter, investigators believed it could have been ingested without suspicion if concealed inside pills. Moushall noted that had the investigation begun earlier, additional forensic testing might have clarified whether McQueen administered the poison herself or if it was placed in her medication by another party.

Bann’s initial assumption that McQueen had died of natural causes, possibly related to cancer she was known to have, influenced the absence of an immediate inquiry. He remarked on the husband’s emotional response, interpreting it as consistent with a non-criminal death.

Under current Australian coronial procedures, such an unexpected death would trigger an immediate, comprehensive investigation involving both police and coroner to better preserve evidence and determine the cause of death. The delayed response in McQueen’s case is regarded by experts as having significantly hindered the ability of investigators to reconstruct the events leading to her death, potentially jeopardizing the pursuit of justice.