A woman has been charged with murder after an eight-year-old boy was found dead in a central Queensland home.

Police officers came across the boy’s unresponsive body during an early morning welfare check at the home in Rockhampton on Saturday.

The property on Waterloo Street at Berserker was declared a crime scene and the Rockhampton Child Protection and Investigation Unit began investigating the sudden death.

A 36-year-old woman, who is known to the boy, was later charged with murder and is due to face Rockhampton Magistrates Court on Monday.

Capricornia police acting inspector Luke Peachey said the death was a tragic event and officers and family members would be offered counselling.

“It hits a little bit harder when there’s an eight-year-old boy who’s been found deceased,” he said.

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