Drinking and joking at Waiheke bar before mum’s suspicious death

The night before she died in suspicious circumstances, Chantelle McLaughlin-Middlemiss was drinking and joking with locals at a Waiheke beachfront bar.

The following afternoon, less than an hour after emergency services found the 32-year-old alive and well at her Ōnetangi home, she was discovered unresponsive in bed and could not be revived.

Police are treating her death as suspicious and believe a “select few” have information that could provide answers.

The Herald visited the island today and spoke to people who knew the young mother and saw her on the night before she died.

Taxi driver Kevin Lauchlan was drinking that night at Charlie Farley’s in Ōnetangi and socialised with McLaughlin-Middlemiss, who he said was a regular at the pub.

“She was sweet as, joking like normal,” Lauchlan said.

“You never suspect anything like that is going to happen.”

During the night, McLaughlin-Middlemiss asked Lauchlan twice about the background music playing and whether he liked the songs.

They were older, good tunes, he said.

Chantelle McLaughlin-Middlemiss was a regular at Charlie Farley’s bar.

Since she died, Lauchlan said, rumours had circulated on Waiheke about McLaughlin-Middlemiss’ death and what happened at her house.

“This is the general chat around. But you don’t know, it’s all rumours.”

Meanwhile, another Waiheke resident who also knew McLaughlin-Middlemiss said island residents were struggling to make sense of her death.

The resident, who asked not to be named, said McLaughlin-Middlemiss was a house painter with her own business who always seemed happy.

She said McLaughlin-Middlemiss had two children with a previous partner. However, she had been in a new relationship with a woman and the couple had split before the death.

The resident said McLaughlin-Middlemiss never appeared outwardly to be struggling and her death was a “really big shock”.

According to police, Chantelle McLaughlin-Middlemiss died in suspicious circumstances on Waiheke Island.

She said it was McLaughlin-Middlemiss’ children who people on the island were most worried about.

The Herald also called at the house where McLaughlin-Middlemiss died. The occupant said they were new tenants in the property and didn’t know her.

They were aware someone had died at the property but only learned yesterday that police were treating it as suspicious.

The Herald sought an update on the investigation from police, but they were unable to respond before the deadline.

Chantelle McLaughlin-Middlemiss, 32, died at her Ōnetangi property on June 2. Background photo / Mike Scott

In a statement yesterday, Detective Senior Sergeant Martin Friend confirmed the circumstances of McLaughlin-Middlemiss’ death were now considered “suspicious”.

On June 2, emergency services were called to her property twice within a short time.

Friend said emergency services attended McLaughlin-Middlemiss’ home on Waiheke Rd about 2.42pm, after reports she “might have been deceased”.

“These concerns were allayed, and no immediate concerns required any intervention.”

About an hour later, emergency services were called back.

Friend said people had gone to the address after calls were made to the family.

“At around 3.30pm, people known to the family located Chantelle unresponsive in bed. First aid was provided, and emergency services were called.

“Fire and ambulance staff attended but sadly could not revive her,” he said.

Since then, police launched an investigation, Operation Gannon.

“Our investigation is focusing on what took place [in] the hours before emergency services first attended the address finding Chantelle alive and well, to being found unresponsive around an hour later, and those persons Chantelle may have had contact with that day,” Friend said.

He urged people with information to come forward.

“I recognise there may be mixed loyalties at play, and some people might feel challenged to come forward.

“We are determined on finding out what has led to Chantelle’s death. We owe it to her whānau and children to find these answers, so we ask you to speak with us,” Friend said.