Boy, 5, found dead in NSW home was duct-taped into sleeping bag, blindfolded, police say

On October 12, 2026, a five-year-old boy named Archie was found dead at his family's home in Grafton, Australia. The child had intellectual disabilities and was born with eye misalignment. Police discovered that he and his siblings were restrained in sleeping bags with duct tape, which also covered their eyes at night. Officers stated that the duct tape around Archie’s head was allegedly used to "assist him sleeping." The boy's father, Neil Ranger, and stepmother, Stephanie Luhrmann, who both work at Big River Glass, were present in the home when he died.

Archie was found unresponsive by an occupant of the house and could not be revived despite CPR administered by first responders. Police launched a homicide investigation involving forensic examination of the home and interviews with the parents. The family had previously been under scrutiny from the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) due to welfare concerns raised in 2025, but it is unclear if they were subject to regular monitoring afterward. A post-mortem examination will determine the exact cause of Archie's death.