Benalla’s mayor believes the deaths of Isabel and Judy Stephens were “simply a tragic accident”, as autopsies are conducted to determine how the mother and daughter died. After a week-long search for Isabel, aged 89, and her daughter Judy, 53, their bodies were found on Saturday in bushland near Samaria, about 20 minutes’ drive from the Tatong pub where they shared one of their last meals. Police will not yet comment on how the pair died. Cooinda chief executive Margaret Aldous said “The Cooinda Community is deeply saddened by Isabel and Judy Stephen’s deaths. Our thoughts, love and support is with their family and friends at this incredible sad and difficult time.” Judy, who had an intellectual disability and was insulin dependent, lived with eight other residents at the church’s cottages.
