The former partner of Hayley McClenahan-Ernst has been charged with her murder, nine years after the pregnant mother’s suspicious death in Sydney’s west.
Thirty-year-old Max Spencer was arrested by NSW detectives at a property in Coffs Harbour on Tuesday morning and later charged with murder.
The charge comes two weeks after police renewed a public appeal into the suspected cold-case killing.
Ms McClenahan-Ernst was found unresponsive at a home on Derby Street in Kingswood during the middle of the night on May 21, 2017.
Paramedics attempted to resuscitate the 21-year-old, but she died at the scene.
Despite homicide detectives declaring Ms McClenahan-Ernst’s death suspicious in 2017, no-one had been charged over her death for almost nine years.
A coronial inquest into her death was suspended in 2025 and the matter referred to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
A man has been charged in the investigation into the death of Hayley McClenahan-Ernst in 2017. (Supplied: NSW Police)
Shortly after, police re-launched their investigation, which led to the arrest of Mr Spencer less than six months later.
In a statement released last month, Ms McClenahan-Ernst’s mother, Lisa Ernst, pleaded for witnesses to come forward with more information about her daughter’s death.
“Hayley was deeply loved by our family and we have never stopped missing her smile, her infectious laugh, and the fierce love she had for her children,” she said.
“My grief over losing my daughter has only deepened with time, especially as I still have no answers about what happened to Hayley.”
Facing bail division court, Mr Spencer was not required to appear on-screen and did not apply for his release on bail.
His matter was adjourned to Penrith local court on June 12.