Dad doesn't know infant son is dead

The father of a boy who died while in foster care with "bruises all over his head" does not know his son is dead.

Police are investigating how 3-year-old Dylan Hohepa Tonga Rimoni sustained "suspicious" head injuries that led to his death at Starship hospital on Friday.

His family was last night searching for Dylan's 23-year-old father, who "lost it" after his son was taken from him, according his sister. "We still have to break the news to him," said the woman, who asked not to be named."

No one has been charged over Dylan's death, although police said yesterday one of the foster parents was the focus of their inquiries.

Detective Senior Sergeant Dave Pizzini said a post mortem had been completed, but the cause of death could not be confirmed until toxicology test results came back.

He said the boy's family - including the foster parents - were co-operating. "We are continuing inquiries," said Pizzini. "We are still treating this as a suspicious death."

A police forensics team yesterday continued to scour the Drury home where Dylan lived in a private foster-care arrangement.

Relatives told the Herald on Sunday they were shocked, appalled and angry about his death. His uncle, Ben Tuala, said Dylan was placed with relatives on the mother's side after the boy's young, first-time parents struggled to cope. Dylan's mother had visited his family yesterday and her son's death was still sinking in.

Tuala described Dylan as a "happy little guy" who loved dancing.

He and his partner had visited their nephew in hospital on Thursday but his life support had already been switched off. "He had bruises all over his head," Tuala said. "Just hearing the news he wouldn't make it and seeing him lying there like that ... I just couldn't believe it. We are angry."

Dylan's father's sister said Dylan's 18-year-old mother had visited her a few weeks ago. "She told me she had a house and a job and she wanted to find my brother so they could both get Dylan back.