Police investigate deaths of man, three children – Pericoe

Friday, 27 Jun 2008 03:30pm

Detectives on the state’s far south coast are investigating the deaths of a man and three young children at Pericoe, west of Eden.

The bodies of the 44-year-old man, an 18-month-old boy, a five-year-old girl and seven-year-old boy were discovered inside a car in the driveway of the remote property about 11am today.

Police from Far South Coast Local Area Command remain at the location this afternoon.

A crime scene has been secured and specialist forensics officers will examine the area for clues.

While the investigation is in its early stages, police don’t believe any other person was involved in the incident.

The children’s mother has been informed of the tragedy and offered counselling.

The Ambulance Service of NSW said it had received unconfirmed reports it was a murder-suicide, and police later confirmed they did not believe any other person was involved in the incident.

Sky News reported that the family had lived at the property for about three years, while Fairfax said the four may have been dead for a number of days.

A spokeswoman for the NSW Department of Education said the children did not attend the local public school.

Post mortem examinations will be carried out in coming days to determine how the four died.

Police will prepare a report for the information of the NSW Coroner.