Two decades after a toddler was found unresponsive in a Singleton home, New South Wales police have dramatically increased a reward for information, vowing they will never abandon the search for answers.
A Mother's Desperate Dash and a 20-Year Mystery
On March 19, 2005, Bernice Swales returned from the shops to her Singleton home to find her 21-month-old son, Jordan William Thompson, unconscious. The little boy, described as a "beautiful" child with his whole life ahead of him, had been in the care of a male friend, Ms Swales's boyfriend at the time.
In a frantic bid to save him, his mother scooped him into her arms and sprinted across the road to Singleton Hospital. Despite desperate efforts, Jordan could not be revived.
The initial account given to police was that the male friend, Cecil Patrick Kennedy, had run a bath for the child, became distracted, and later found him face down in the water. However, investigators say the man provided different versions of events to the child's mother.
Coronial Findings and a Trial Without Verdict
A post-mortem examination revealed a critical piece of evidence: an antidepressant drug was found in Jordan's system. This was the same medication prescribed to the man who was caring for him.
Two coronial inquests were held into the tragedy. In 2018, a coroner made a significant finding, determining that Jordan did not drown in a bathtub but was deliberately given antidepressant medication by a "known person".
This finding led police to charge Cecil Patrick Kennedy with manslaughter. He stood trial in the Sydney Downing Centre District Court in 2023 and 2024. However, both juries were discharged after being unable to reach unanimous verdicts. In March 2025, prosecutors announced there would be no third trial.
A $500,000 Plea for Conscience and Closure
This week, on the cusp of the 20-year anniversary, NSW Police announced the reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction in the case has been raised from $100,000 to $500,000.
Detective Inspector Paul Quigg, who has led the investigation for the entire two decades, made an emotional appeal to the public, particularly those in the Singleton area. He believes people in the community hold "vital" clues that have never been disclosed.
"Jordan was a lovely little infant child. He had his life in front of him and he couldn't defend himself at the end of the day," Detective Inspector Quigg said. "From the heart, I'm asking that person to come forward and give us that information."
He emphasised that Christmas, a time for family, is the perfect moment for someone to come forward. "I couldn't look at myself in the mirror if I gave up," he vowed.
Jordan's mother, Bernice Swales, thanked the NSW Government for increasing the reward. She expressed her firm belief that community members have kept a secret for over twenty years.
"Jordan's father, Paul Thompson, passed away last year and never got a chance to see justice," Ms Swales said. "I am hoping this reward will reach the conscience of a person in the community who has not previously come forward so I can obtain justice and some form of closure."
The Hunter Valley Police District and the State Crime Command's Homicide Squad continue to investigate Jordan's death as suspicious. They urge anyone with information, no matter how insignificant it may seem, to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
