The quiet suburban street where two children and their father were found dead in a suspected double-suicide operation remained cordoned off Saturday morning while police continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.
Forensic scientists were combing the Essington Street property from the early hours to gather evidence that could potentially help explain how the children and their father died.
Officers and emergency services crowded the area just after 6:30 p.m. Friday after police received a call from a distressed family member.
The Western Australian understands that when they arrived, they found a girl and a boy of four and six years inside as well as their father. The children are believed to have been spotted in their beds.
It is understood that their mother was on the scene while shocked neighbors watched in horror and disbelief.
A tent was erected just outside the home earlier Saturday and a body was removed from the house around 6:45 p.m.
A large part of the street, which has a basketball court, a school and a playground nearby, was still cordoned off at both ends with police tape.
Detectives from the homicide group said Friday night that the deaths were being treated as a suspected double-suicide.
The shocked neighbor Julie Fennel, who lives about 50m away from the place where the tragedy unfolded, said she heard police and ambulance sirens around 6.30pm.
She said she usually took her dog for a walk past the house that was now the subject of the major investigation, but it was usually a quiet street with no problems.
Another neighbor, Samantha Pate, said she was shocked to hear about the tragedy.
“I have never really heard of any problems (on this street),” said Mrs. Pate. “We know our neighbors, we say hello to them.”
The stay-at-home mom said her family was not home at the time of the incident. Ms Pate added that the Huntingdale community would “definitely” unite and support each other in the coming difficult days.
In a statement issued late Friday, police would only say they were investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of three people in a home in Essington Street.
Livline: 13 11 14
1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)