Plympton, real estate stabbing: Shaun Michaels Dunk’s disturbing warning to cops just two weeks before he was released from a mental health facility and allegedly stabbed a random stranger to death on the same day
The man accused of randomly stabbing two woman allegedly warned police that he was experiencing hallucination and believed he could hurt someone.
Shaun Michaels Dunk, 30, is accused of storming into REAL Estate Agents Group in Plympton, Adelaide, on Wednesday and attacking staff with a knife, leaving Julez Seed, 38, dead.
Susan Scardigno, 50, is recovering from critical injuries at the Royal Adelaide Hospital.
Dunk, who has been charged with once count of murder and one count of attempted murder, was released from a mental health facility on that morning.
He was also released from hospital just two days prior, despite allegedly telling police a fortnight earlier he was worried that he might hurt someone, sources told The Advertiser.
A GoFundMe has been launched by a family friend of Ms Seed to bring her family together and cover funeral costs for the mother who was ‘taken too soon’.
Julie ‘Julez’ Seed, 38, (pictured with fiance Chris Smith) died in an alleged attack at the office of REAL Estate Agents in Plympton, Adelaide, on Wednesday
Ms Seed’s co-worker Susan Scardigno, 50, was also critically injured in the alleged attack but has since had her status upgraded to ‘stable’ at the Royal Adelaide Hospital
Shaun Michaels Dunk, 30, (left) has been accused of storming into the REAL Estate Agents Group in Plympton, Adelaide, on Wednesday and attacking workers with a knife and hammer
Dunk spent Tuesday night in the care of the Urgent Mental Health Care Centre on Grenfell Street in Adelaide’s CBD before being let out two hours before the alleged attack.
He has also been charged with the attempted murder of Ms Seed’s co-worker, Susan Scardigno, 50, who is recovering from critical injuries at the Royal Adelaide Hospital.
Dunk had previously been detained under the Mental Health Act on December 5 after showing up to a police station claiming that he was experiencing hallucinations of people threatening to kill him, according to The Advertiser.
The publication reported that he approached police because he had become paranoid.
It is believed that Dunk was delivered to the hospital several times in the weeks prior.
The circumstances leading up to Dunk’s release on Monday from the clinic will contribute to the chief psychiatrist’s investigation into Ms Seed’s death.
He appeared via video link before the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Thursday in the same black T-shirt and beige shorts he was arrested in.
Dunk did not apply for bail and his lawyer said that there would be an application made for a mental health assessment on his client’s behalf.
He will remain in custody until March when he is due to to face the court again.
Police claim that SA Health has been releasing potentially violent and unstable patients on a ‘daily’ basis despite officers labelling them an ‘extreme risk to society’.
Officers told the publication that it was ‘an absolute failure of the system’ and a ‘never ending cycle’.
‘Why was he free?’ one asked.
‘How did the system allow this to happen?’
In the wake of the tragedy, Matt Carr, a friend of Mr Smith, has launched a GoFundMe campaign aiming to help Ms Seed’s family cover the costs of travel and funeral arrangements (couple pictured together)
Police are investigating the allegedly random stabbing in Plympton on Wednesday afternoon
Ms Scardigno is now in a stable condition with a friend revealing she only sustained her injuries trying to protect Ms Seed.
‘I am utterly devastated for Julez’ family and may she rest in peace, there is no words for this [alleged] horrific event that took place,’ the friend said.
‘I am beyond relieved like no other that Susan survived, yet I know her scars will be [forever] a reminder of her fight to save her friend.’
Ms Scardigno has worked at the agency for five years as a business development manager while Ms Seed was employed two years ago.
A friend of Ms Seed’s fiancé, Chris Smith, launched a $50,000 GoFundMe campaign to help her family cope with the loss which will cover flights and funeral expenses.
‘Julez was taken way too soon from those who love her, especially her two beautiful girls and adoring fiancé Chris,’ family friend Matt Carr wrote.
‘Julez’s mother, her two sisters and brother are based in the UK and are in need of some financial support to get to Adelaide as soon as possible to be with Chris and the girls at this incredibly difficult time.
‘Any help to assist in their flights to Australia, and to help Chris and the girls through a very difficult period they are facing in the coming weeks would be greatly appreciated.’
On Thursday tragic images emerged of the mother-of-two celebrating with colleagues before she was allegedly stabbed to death.
Tragic images have emerged of a mother-of-two real estate agent Julez Seed (left) celebrating with workmate Susan Scardigno before both were allegedly stabbed at work
A daughter of one of Ms Scardigno’s colleagues has claimed she tried to save Ms Seed from their alleged attacker
In the wake of the tragedy, close friends have paid tribute to Ms Seed, a mother of two daughters aged 12 and 18, from Morphett Vale who got engaged Mr Smith a year ago.
‘Julez was a beautiful soul, she had a smile that lit up a room,’ close pal Cathy Black told Daily Mail Australia. ‘She was very loved.
‘Julez and Chris were so happy together, it’s tragic. She was always happy, everyone loved her.
‘She was a wonderful mum of two beautiful girls, one of which has just turned 18.
‘It’s heartbreaking to think that she finally had everything she had ever wanted in life, only to be taken so tragically from the world by a senseless random act of violence that should never have happened.
‘Now a beautiful family has had their whole life torn apart….and right before Christmas.
‘My heart breaks for her family.’
Ms Black also fondly remembered Ms Seed’s lifelong affection for cows: ‘She loved cows. Anything cow-related, she was obsessed with cows!
‘She had just found everything that she wanted – a beautiful mum, two beautiful girls, a beautiful family, home, fiance – she’d just got her dream job,’ she added tearfully.
‘And then this happens.
‘Innocent people are losing their lives and it’s not fair.’
Close pal Cathy Black told how Ms Seed was enjoying her best life before the tragedy, after getting engaged a year ago, with a ‘beautiful family’ and starting her dream job two years ago
Photographs on social media reveal Ms Seed (right) celebrating Melbourne Cup Day in 2021 with her real estate workmates, who described her as a ‘little diamond’ and one of the ‘happiest in our office’
The images show Ms Seed (right) happy and smiling, wearing a pink dress with black polka dots and a black fascinator as she studies the form guides ahead of the race at a local bar
Almost a year ago to the day she died, Ms Seed had celebrated Christmas with her co-workers with a limo trip to their Xmas party venue (pictured)
Friend Amy Drummond said Ms Seed was a ‘beautiful soul’ who was ‘always positive and had so much kindness to give’.
‘She knew how to put a smile on your face and was an amazing friend and co-worker,’ she told Daily Mail Australia.
‘She will be missed deeply and cherished forever.’
Photographs on social media reveal Ms Seed celebrating Melbourne Cup Day in 2021 with her real estate workmates, who described her as a ‘little diamond’ and one of the ‘happiest in our office’.
Co-worker Susan Scardigno posted the pics on Facebook and added: ‘Day out with my crew.
‘Trifecta and Pick 4 in the bag but would have traded the win just to share this day again with this REAL Estate Agents Group.’
The images show Ms Seed happy and smiling, wearing a pink dress with black polka dots and a black fascinator as she studies the form guides ahead of the race at a local bar.
‘Such an amazing day,’ said Ms Seed in a reply to one of the pictures.
South Australia Health has now launched a review into their process after admitting the alleged killer had been treated for mental health issues just two days before the tragedy.
A spokesman told Daily Mail Australia: ‘The Chief Psychiatrist will be reviewing the circumstances around this patient’s treatment and discharge.’
Witnesses told 9News that they were helpless to do anything but could hear desperate screams when the alleged attack began.
‘I just hear some lady screaming and I listen to the door as it just crashed closed,’ one woman said.
‘To stand here and watch has been really scary and horrifying to see,’ another added.
The real estate building is located next to a supermarket car park where families were among those who watched the tragic events unfold.
Police said they had recovered a knife and a small hammer from the crime scene.
A specialist team of Medstar paramedics worked for more than an hour to save Julez Seed, 38, but were unsuccessful and she died at the scene
Another aged 50, from Henley Beach, was taken to hospital with serious injuries. A 30-year-old man was arrested at the scene and has been charged with murder and attempted murder