Willow Dunn's father and stepmum doted on new baby and 'left her to die'
Willow Dunn was allegedly left to starve to death in her cot while her father and stepmother doted on their new baby.
Mark James Dunn, 43, and his girlfriend Shannon White, 43, were both charged with murder after the four-year-old girl, who had Down syndrome, was found dead in a back room of their Brisbane home on Monday.
But Daily Mail Australia can reveal their own son, born on August 30, 2018, and by all accounts a healthy and happy baby, was adored by both his parents.
White posted numerous photos of herself and the little boy to Facebook including a recent video of him happily playing with toys on the floor.
'Running a muck (sic) has just learnt how to get in the sunroom lol,' she wrote, while Willow at the same time was allegedly being horrifically neglected.
Shannon White, 43, holds her toddler son, born August 2018, whom she shares with her boyfriend Mark Dunn
Willow Dunn, 4, was the daughter of Dunn and his deceased wife Naomi. In contrast to her baby half-brother, her body was found decomposing in her bed and police revealed she died of malnourishment and sustained neglect
Photos from the birth of the now 10-month-old boy prompted friends to comment how much he looked like his father - Dunn. 'Definitely has Mark's ears, lips and nose,' White replied.
Dunn and White posted numerous selfies of each other, tagged each other in couples' memes, and left gushing emotional comments with heart emojis.
White was the best friend of Willow's biological mother Naomi Dunn, who died on November 5, 2015, from complications in giving birth to her.
Little more than a year later in early 2017, White, who was Ms Dunn's bridesmaid at her wedding in 2014, moved from her home in Adelaide to Brisbane to shack up with Dunn.
Little more than a year after Ms Dunn's death in early 2017, White (pictured, right) - her best friend of 20 years - moved from Adelaide to Brisbane to shack up with her husband (left)
White (pictured, centre) was on Wednesday arrested and later charged with murder. Dunn had been slapped with the same charge a week earlier
White (pictured, centre) was led away from the station in handcuffs looking worse for wear and wearing thongs and shabby clothes
Their union appeared to have the blessing of White's family and friends, who often remarked how 'handsome' Dunn was.
'Perfect couple! Look so happy together and they both certainly deserve each other,' one of White's adult daughters wrote.
Willow's seven-year-old brother was also well cared for and there appear to be no signs of mistreatment towards him.
Meanwhile, Willow was allegedly left to lie in her own filth for days or weeks on end while they played with the new baby.
They allegedly left the helpless little girl lying in her bed, starving to death, long enough for her to have infected sores on her hips down to the bone.
White gushed over Willow (pictured) when she was born in late October 2015, when she posted this photo of the newborn infant
'My best mate's baby willow such a beautiful sole (sic) can't wait to meet her, so adorable,' she wrote
White allegedly told police last week that caring for Willow was not her responsibility as she was not her biological daughter.
She also gushed over Willow when she was born in late October 2015, when she posted a photo of the newborn infant.
'My best mate's baby willow such a beautiful sole (sic) can't wait to meet her, so adorable,' she wrote.
'Naomi u done a amazing job with such a roller coaster pregnancy ur such a great mum and an awesome friend love u babe.'
Ms Dunn replied: 'Awwww you making me cry... Love you lots.'
White responded with: 'Over 20 years of friendship and staying forever.'
Three days later Ms Dunn was dead.
White posted numerous photos of herself and the the little boy to Facebook including a recent video of him happily playing with toys on the floor
Willow's body was found malnourished and decomposing in her bed at her home in Brisbane last Monday, her face partially eaten by rats, and her father Mark James Dunn (pictured) charged with murder
Daily Mail Australia understands Willow was sent to live with an aunt and uncle after her mother's death.
Their father up to a year later took her and her brother, who is now seven, back to live with him despite a custody attempt by the relatives.
Dunn allegedly told police after his arrest he couldn't handle his daughter's condition and was depressed about his wife's death.
Mark and Naomi Dunn (pictured) married in 2014, less than a year before her death from complications after giving birth to Willow
White (pictured, second from left) was a bridesmaid at Ms Dunn's wedding in 2014 and was her friend for 19 years at the time
For the past year the toddler is believed to have been solely in the care of her father, who allegedly left her in squalor.
Police confirmed a post-mortem revealed the toddler died of malnourishment and sustained neglect.
Detective Inspector Chris Knight would not rule out charging more people and said police were investigating the entire family in Queensland, NSW, and South Australia.
'Despite today's second arrest in this homicide, detectives are continuing to progress this investigation,' he said.
Ms Dunn's adult son mourned his half-sister on Facebook in the days after her death.
'Rest in Peace Willow. It's so heartbreaking things have turned out this way, but you will forever be in our hearts. Fly high with mum,' her son wrote.
Willow (pictured, left), who had Down Syndrome, and her brother who is now seven (right) was sent to live with an aunt and uncle after her mother's death
Naomi Dunn (pictured) died on November 5, 2015, after giving birth to her daughter Willow, devastating her family
A Facebook post from Ms White in 2014 claimed Ms Dunn was her best friend of 19 years (pictured)
Inspector Knight said members of Willow's family moved to Queensland from South Australia in 2017 and police wanted to speak to anyone who knew of them and the family dynamic.
'We continue to obtain information from potential witnesses who are assisting us to build a clearer picture of the dynamics relating to Willow Dunn's family,' he said.
'Our investigative team are not yet satisfied that we've exhausted all inquiries and will continue to investigate and evaluate all information that we come by so that we can make better informed decisions in the future.'
Detectives are investigating whether Willow spent the entirety of her four years on earth in squalor without adequate food or care.
She was allegedly badly malnourished, and had bone-deep sores on her hips when she was found.
Willow was not Down syndrome registered with the NDIS, leading detectives to allege she was not receiving the care she needed.
A teddy bear wearing a Parramatta Eels jersey is seen in the bedroom of the Cannon Hill home on May 26 (pictured) just hours after little Willow was allegedly found in her cot
A stroller was seen in the front yard on May 26 (pictured) as police continued to investigate what happened to the toddler
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