By Perry Duffin and Olivia Ireland
NSW Police spoke with the man who allegedly stabbed a three-year-old boy to death in a south-west Sydney unit just hours before the horrific incident, sources close to the case said.
Nathan Vitakos allegedly attacked the toddler in a Riverwood unit on Wednesday afternoon. Officers were seeking the 45-year-old over allegations of domestic violence, police will allege.
Vitakos, who lives in Medlow Bath in the Blue Mountains, was staying with an older female relative in Riverwood this week.
Police received a report Vitakos allegedly committed an act of domestic violence some days earlier, sources said.
Officers managed to speak to Vitakos, on the phone, sometime on Wednesday.
The Herald has been told Vitakos’ behaviour in the lead up to the horrific event appeared normal. His contact with police was similarly calm.
But about 4pm Vitakos is alleged to have stabbed the child in the unit bathroom, sources said.
He then turned the knife on himself, police suspect.
It was only after Vitakos’ relative returned to her Washington Avenue unit and found the boy dead, and Vitakos with critical wounds, that the alarm was raised.
The child’s mother died within a year of his birth, police said.
No charges have been laid over the boy’s death, but are expected in coming days.
Paramedics intubated Vikatos at the scene and took him to hospital clinging to life. He is now in a stable condition after emergency surgery.
Sources with knowledge of the family situation said Vikatos had only recently arrived in Riverwood. The building is reserved housing for over-50s, locals said.
Vikatos usually lives at Medlow Bath in the Blue Mountains, and neighbours said he spends much of his time in Sydney. The house has been cordoned off with police tape.
One neighbour who spoke on the condition of anonymity said Vikatos had arrived at Medlow Bath earlier this year.
“He was known to the community and seemed nice but had only moved in a few months ago, so we didn’t know much,” he said.
“It’s just horrible with what’s happened.”
Forensic police and detectives came and went from the Riverwood apartment complex on Thursday morning.
Sometimes they carried evidence bags, and at other times clipboards and bundles of documents.
Counsellors from a nearby community centre arrived with bouquets of yellow flowers and a white teddy bear. They laid them at the front door and bowed their heads in silence.
“We were all really devastated upon hearing the news and we thought the most appropriate thing we could do was to show our condolences to the family, community and anyone affected,” one counsellor said.
“It’s unbelievable, it’s the worst news you could hear.”
He urged locals to seek counselling at the community centre.
Support is available from the National Sexual Assault, Domestic Family Violence Counselling Service at 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732). Crisis support is available from Lifeline on 13 11 14 and Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636.
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