By Jesse Hyland and Max Aitchison For Daily Mail Australia
10:33 05 Jun 2023, updated 06:38 06 Jun 2023
- Toddler found dead in Riverwood apartment
- Family say he was a ‘beautiful boy’ who ‘loved trucks’
- His father Nathan Vikatos, 45, charged with murder
A toddler who was allegedly stabbed to death by his father has been remembered by his family as a ‘beautiful boy’ who ‘loved trucks and diggers’.
The body of boy, 3, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was discovered in an apartment in Riverwood, south west Sydney, on Wednesday afternoon.
His father, Nathan Vikatos, 45, had serious knife injuries, which police believe were self-inflicted, and was taken to St George Hospital where he underwent emergency surgery.
He has been charged with his son’s alleged murder and refused bail.
Family members have expressed their shock and horror over the boy’s tragic death.
One relative told The Daily Telegraph: ‘What has happened is just tragic… but we don’t want it to overshadow what a beautiful boy (he) was.’
‘He was always happy…he loved trucks and diggers…we are all heartbroken,’ the person commented.
Another devastated loved one posted a tribute to the little boy on Facebook page, saying ‘you are now an angel in heaven’.
They child’s mother, Jessica Marett, died in early 2021 shortly after giving birth.
The father then moved the pair to the Central Coast and allegedly cut off contact with her side of the family.
Elizabeth Risbridger, who babysat the boy, said she was ‘broken’ after hearing the news.
‘He called me Mum…he excelled at speaking and confidence whilst I babysat him,’ she said.
Ms Risbridger said she ‘loved’ babysitting the young boy and recounted spending hours at the beach with him and her dog.
Relatives of Ms Marett are calling for the boy’s body to be buried next to his mother after finding out about his tragic death.
Relatives descried his late mother as a ‘supportive, affectionate’ woman.