Mother kills her daughter, then herself in Silverwater Jail

A LITTLE over a year since Tamara Gurney was accused of murdering her three-year old daughter, the 41-year-old has been found dead in her cell after apparently taking her own life.

Gurney, who was on remand in Silverwater Women’s Correction Centre, was found unresponsive by prison officers shortly after 7.15am on August 9.

She had been awaiting trial after being charged with murdering her daughter Iyla Lee Katterns, whose body was discovered inside their home at Orange on August 1.

Gurney was in another room of the house at the time, allegedly slipping in and out of consciousness after a reported drug overdose.

The death of Iyla followed a bitter court battle between Gurney and her former partner Nathan Katterns, who had been awarded custody of the little girl. A still emotional Mr Katterns said he would never get over his daughter’s death. The Gold Coast schoolteacher said he drew strength from his sevenyear-old son Kaito – who has a different mother – who also desperately missed his little sister. “She was my angel,” Mr Katterns said. “I say a prayer for my daughter every day.

“I would give my own life for Iyla to still be alive. “Without (Kaito), I would not be here. He loved his sister and misses her.”
A Corrective Services NSW spokeswoman said the department and NSW Police were investigating the death.