Family friends of Maria Lutz, who was killed alongside her two autistic children in a bizarre murder-suicide, said that her husband’s behaviour prior to their death ‘rang alarm bells.’
Sarina Marchi, a former community worker, said Mr Manrique’s decision to spend time with his children during the September school holidays of 2016 after being told to move out of the family home was strange.
‘I said: “This doesn’t sound normal.”‘ Mrs Marchi told the Daily Telegraph.
Sarina Marchi, a former community worker, said Mr Manrique’s (pictured) decision to spend time with his children during the September school holidays of 2016 after being told to move out of the family home was strange
Three days after this conversation between Mrs Lutz and Mrs Marchi and Maria Claudia Lutz, 43, Fernando Manrique, 44, and their children Elisa, 11, and Martin, 10, (all pictured) were found dead in the family home in Davidson, north Sydney, on October 17, 2016
‘I said: “I know that a lot of violence happens after separation and if it doesn’t feel right; if you suspect anything just get out.”‘
Three days after this conversation between Mrs Lutz and Mrs Marchi and Maria Claudia Lutz, 43, Fernando Manrique, 44, and their children Elisa, 11, and Martin, 10, were found dead in the family home in Davidson, north Sydney, on October 17, 2016.
It is alleged that Mr Manrique reconfigured the family home to include a host of lethal pipes during that school holiday period that would then release the fatal level of gas that killed them all.
It is alleged that Mr Manrique reconfigured the family home to include a host of lethal pipes during that school holiday period that would then release the fatal level of gas that killed them all (pictured Mrs Lutz with her two children)
Grief engulfed the small town of Davidson and St Lucy’s School in Wahroonga where Elisa and Martin attended
Grief engulfed the small town of Davidson and St Lucy’s School in Wahroonga where Elisa and Martin attended.
The pair had autism but this is not believed to be the root cause of their father’s decision to end their lives.
At the family’s funeral late last year a tin of paint brushes symbolising Elisa and her brother Martin’s love of art was placed at the altar at the beginning of the service.
The pair had autism but this is not believed to be the root cause of their father’s decision to end their lives (Martin pictured)
Their love of art will live on in the form of a showcase at the Museum of Contemporary Art next month to commemorate one year since their death
Their love of art will live on in the form of a showcase at the Museum of Contemporary Art next month to commemorate one year since their death.
‘It has been a real vocation for me to see it through and certainly everybody at the school understands, they were known as artists,’ head of creative arts Alessandra Picone told the Daily Telegraph.
‘I hope that it would be a huge sense of pride for Maria.’
A family friend of Mrs Lutz commented that the children’s special needs unfairly shaped the case in the media last year.
A family friend of Mrs Lutz (pictured) commented that the children’s special needs unfairly shaped the case in the media last year
Prior to their deaths Mrs Lutz had asked Mr Manrique to move out of the family home they shared, mainly because he was away so often (pictured on their wedding day)
It was at that point the 44-year-old suggested staying just long enough to see his children enjoy their school break (the family home)
‘People make excuses because they don’t want to confront it,’ Mrs Marchi said.
‘But it comes down to, yes, there are all these other issues that put strain on relationships but when it comes to an act of violence, the individual has to accept some responsibility.
‘He may well have been struggling or unwilling to accept the reality of his life as it was, but that is no excuse to take anybody’s life.’
Prior to their deaths Mrs Lutz had asked Mr Manrique to move out of the family home they shared, mainly because he was away so often.
It was at that point the 44-year-old suggested staying just long enough to see his children enjoy their school break.
No suicide note was left to explain why Mr Manrique acted so violently, but an inquest into their deaths will be held at a later date.