Police were called to the house where a mother and her two children were murdered in the days and weeks leading up to the brutal killings.
The Western Australia Police Commissioner confirmed officers were called several times to the Ellenbrook home in Perth’s northeast, where a mother and her two children were found slain on Sunday morning.
Teancum Vernon Petersen-Crofts, 19, appeared in court on Monday charged with murdering his mother Michelle Peterson, 48, and his two siblings Bella, 15 and Rua, eight.
Police called to the home on Sunday morning described the home as the most horrific crime scene they had ever been to.
Teancum Vernon Peterson-Crofts (left) was reportedly in a psychotic state hours before he allegedly murdered Michelle Petersen (right), her daughter, 15, and eight-year-old son in Perth
Ms Petersen’s daughter Bella (left), 15, and her son Rua (right), eight, also died at the home
Commissioner Chris Dawson said on Tuesday officers were called to the Perth home just days before Petersen-Crofts allegedly murdered his own family.
‘I can confirm that police have attended at that particular address, not only on the Friday, but in the weeks leading up to that,’ he told reporters.
‘But these are matters that will be ultimately put before a court and, indeed, the state coroner, so I’m not going to particularise what exactly took place there.’
The commissioner’s statement comes as it was revealed the murder accused was in hospital hours before the horrific incident.
The teenager reportedly left hospital in a ‘psychotic state’ hours before his mother and two siblings were murdered.
Petersen-Crofts, 19, reported to St John of God Midland public hospital on Saturday night in a ‘psychotic state’, but was turned away when the police became involved,WA Today reported.
St John of God Midland Public Hospital said it was unable to comment for privacy reasons.
The 19-year-old has been charged with three counts of murder over the deaths at the family home (pictured) in Ellenbrook, in Perth’s north-east, in the early hours of Sunday
News of the horrific murders left friends of the slain family devastated.
A friend of Ms Petersen broke down during a heartbreaking tribute on Monday.
‘My friend and her two babies were killed by her son who suffered from mental illness…and I’m so, so devastated,’ Ms Ata said.
Constantly wiping away her tears, she recalled the loving nature of her friend and children.
‘Shelly was my friend, she was kind, happy, loved her kids, all of them unconditionally.
‘At times in her life she was rough, she was flawed, but we all are, no one is perfect and Shell tried.’
Ms Ata said she found out about the alleged murders from Ms Petersen’s surviving daughter who was asking for ‘a friend’s number’
She told news.com.au that she found out about the alleged murders from Ms Petersen’s surviving daughter, who was asking for ‘a friend’s number’.
Ms Ata responded to the daughter then wished her well, and the girl replied saying: ‘Not really Aunty. Mum and Rua and Bella were killed this morning’.
She had already known of the deaths in Ellenbrook but after receiving the message, Ms Ata realised it was Ms Petersen and her ‘two babies’.
Aliyah Grey, 14, Bella’s friend, said that the family was a beautiful family
‘The little brother would always wave and say hi when he walked past and the mum was very nice’ (pictured Bella)
Bella (left), 15, and her brother Rua (right), eight, were allegedly killed by Ms Peterson’s son
Aliyah Grey, 14, Bella’s friend, told Daily Mail Australia of the character of the slain family.
‘They were a beautiful family, very friendly, caring and kind,’ she said.
‘The little brother would always wave and say hi when he walked past and the mum was very nice.
‘My heart goes out to all their friends and family.’
Aliya’s mother Helen Grey also spoke to Daily Mail Australia and said the community was rallying together to support each other.
‘They were a loving family…Bella was an amazing big sister, always looking after her younger brother and older sister – they all looked out for each other,’ Ms Grey said.
‘Rua he was a gorgeous boy and he’s friends with my son.
‘The community are coming together with the church to support each other.
‘It’s just really sad and unexpected.’
Experienced police officers have described the scene that confronted them when they arrived at the family’s home (pictured) as ‘potentially the most horrific they had ever been called to’
Police performed a search around the property and found a pair of scissors in the front yard
Petersen-Crofts appeared in a Perth court on Monday morning charged with three counts of murder.
Appearing before Midland Magistrate’s Court without a lawyer, the accused murderer broke down and rambled over the top of Magistrate Greg Smith, before allegedly attacking security.
‘He’s a criminal,’ Petersen-Crofts told the court, speaking of an unknown person.
‘He went to take me out bush. He did it. He came back from my family.
‘I needed to because mama is with me… I was painting a picture of Jesus and stayed there for two months. He punched me so hard in the head. So hard.
‘I left because I was that scared he was going to kill me. Mama told me to save myself.’
When court security attempted to calm him, he allegedly hit out at a guard, WA Today reports.
‘What are you looking at, serial killer? He looks like a serial killer and he’s a security guard,’ he said.
Neighbours chat with a police officer at the scene of the crime in Ellenbrook, Western Australia
The shattered friends of the family break down after hearing about the ‘horrific’ crime scene
Petersen-Crofts was remanded in custody to be held in a mental health unit until his next court appearance on Monday, July 23.
A day earlier, experienced police officers described the scene that confronted them when they arrived at the house as ‘the most horrific they had ever been called to’.
Police were first made aware of the crime when the teenager arrived at a 7-Eleven convenience store on The Broadway, a street in Ellenbrook, and asked the shop attendant to call for police.
Officers arrived at the shop about 1.30am on Sunday, before being led to the nearby family home.
There they allegedly found Ms Petersen and Rua inside, before discovering Bella in the backyard. She died on her way to hospital.
‘A senior homicide squad investigating officer said to me today it is potentially the most horrific crime scenes he has ever been called to,’ Assistant Commissioner Paul Steel said
Police allegedly found Ms Petersen and her eight-year-old son dead inside the home (pictured), before discovering the critically injured teenage girl in the backyard. She died on the way to hospital
Heartbroken relatives have paid tribute to the mother and two children on Facebook, while a GoFundMe page was set up to help pay for their funerals.
‘Help us raise some much needed funds and relieve just a little of the load her surviving kids now have on their shoulders,’ the fundraising page reads.
‘Shelly was kind, happy, loved her kids, all of them unconditionally. At times in her life she was rough , she was flawed, but we all are, no one is perfect and Shell tried.
‘Let’s give Shelly, Bella and Rua a wonderful send off.’
It is understood Ms Petersen has several other children and relatives living in New Zealand who are now flying to Western Australia.
A 19-year-old man has been charged with murder after being arrested at Ellenbrook early on Sunday
WA Police Assistant Commissioner Paul Steel described the crime scene to reporters on Sunday afternoon.
‘A senior homicide squad investigating officer said to me today it is potentially the most horrific crime scenes he has ever been called to,’ Mr Steel said.
During a search around the property police found a pair of scissors, which they took away in an evidence bag.
Mr Steel said it could take days for the scene to be processed.
According to records, the home is part of the state government’s public housing.
Neighbour Matthew Schreck said he had heard a commotion about an hour before police arrived in the street.
‘I just heard a lot of screaming and yelling and a bit of fighting, and the cops flew past here and headed up this way,’ he told reporters.
‘It was real loud yelling and screaming. It sounded pretty bad. It sounded like a man.’
The incident came two days after neighbours called police who reportedly saw a man ‘aggressively waving a length of wood’ in the front yard, Nine News reported.
Forensic Services officer attend a crime scene where three people have been found dead in Ellenbrook
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