A Sydney mother says she will continue to demand answers from authorities about her daughter's death in care.
Merna Aprem, who lived with autism and epilepsy, had lived at a group home in Sydney's west for several months was found dead in a bathtub last Thursday.
Tanya Petrus says she's determined to find out why her daughter Merna died in care. Source: SBS News
She was just four weeks from her 21st birthday.
Her mother, Tanya Petrus, is now demanding to know how her daughter could have been left alone to die.
“Everybody knows epileptic children cannot be left alone… and definitely cannot be left in a bath unsupervised," the single mother of six children told SBS News.
A funeral will be held next week for Merna Aprem, who died at a group home in Sydney's west. Source: Supplied
Ms Petrus said her daughter had been experiencing more frequent seizures and had required a higher level of care.
“As a single parent, I was going through financial stress so I wanted to go back to work to support myself and my kids," she said.
Fearing her daughter might fall down the stairs or collapse in the shower, Ms Petrus had decided she needed 24-hour care.
NDIS funding and meticulous research led her to Afford, which operates group homes in Sydney's west.
The last time Ms Petrus spoke to Merna was on the phone on the morning of 23 May.
Ms Petrus said her daughter had been experiencing more frequent seizures and had required a higher level of care. Source: SBS News
But NSW Police Force officers were called about 7pm that night after Merna was found unconscious in the bath.
Paramedics were unable to save her.
NSW Police told SBS News initial inquiries suspect drowning was the cause of her death although the exact cause is yet to be determined.
"She was a very beautiful girl… She's loud, fun, bubbly. Loved to sing and loved water," Ms Petrus told SBS News.
“We visited these places, we had meeting after meeting and they reassured me that this was 24 hour care and best in the country.
In a statement to SBS News Afford says it is fully cooperating with authorities.
"The care given to every Afford client is of the highest quality and Afford promotes the highest standards of best practice within the disability sector.
"Counselling services have been provided to both staff and clients."
