Details of the final moments of a nine-month-old girl whose body was found on a Gold Coast beach should become clearer when autopsy results are handed to police on Tuesday.
The baby's lifeless body was found by a passer-by at the edge of the water at Surfer's Paradise about 12.30am on Monday but police say paramedics never stood a chance of reviving her.
Her 48-year-old father and 23-year-old mother were located about five kilometres away in Broadbeach and have been arrested on suspicion of committing an indictable offence.
The couple, who were known to police, hadn't reported their daughter missing before her body was found.
They are in police custody and have been questioned by Queensland homicide detectives but no charges have been laid.
Detective Inspector Marc Hogan says drugs weren't a factor in the parents' behaviour but he didn't rule out foul play.
He said the baby did not have any obvious injuries and a ground and air search of the beach yielded little evidence.
The family has been living in parks and seeking shelter between Tweed Heads in NSW and Surfers Paradise, he said.
"This is a very tragic event," detective inspector Marc Hogan told a press conference. Source: AAP
Homicide detectives from NSW Police are also involved in the investigation as officers attempt to pin down the couple's movements in that state.
Det Insp Hogan said the child was found less than a kilometre from the main party precinct for schoolies revellers.
But police have ruled out any connection to the end of high school celebrations, and it wasn't a school leaver who found the child.
Detectives are checking CCTV footage in the hope the couple and child may have been caught on camera.
