Weeks ago they were just three happy kids playing with a ball in their dad’s backyard.
But on Wednesday, police had the grim task of loading the charred bodies of Aaliyah, 6, Laianah, 4, and Trey, 3, into a funeral van.
They burned to death after their father, former NRL player Rowan Charles Baxter, torched the family car with them and their mother inside, before escaping the flames and stabbing himself in the stomach.
Former NRL player Rowan Charles Baxter torched the family car on Wednesday and killed his three children
Their tiny bodies were loaded into a funeral van as police cordoned off the area
Hannah Baxter, 31, jumped out of the white SUV engulfed in flames yelling ‘he’s poured petrol on me’ and was hosed down by a heroic bystander.
She was rushed from the scene on Raven Street, Camp Hill, in Brisbane’s southeast, to hospital in critical condition about 8.20am.
Police swarmed the horrific scene that shocked residents on the quite street, where Ms Baxter was staying with her parents since their marriage broke down over Christmas.
About 4pm, officers loaded the badly burned bodies of Baxter and his children into a New Haven Funerals van, before hosing down the street.
Nearby, wellwishers including local councillors placed flowers and teddy bears with messages of love and grief.
Just 3km away in Carindale, the Baxter family home was quiet as forensics officers examined the small garage.
Flowers and toys were laid in memory of Aaliyah, six, Laianah, four, and Trey, three
Shocked neighbours said they knew the couple, who lived in the rented house for at least a year, had split up but never expected violence
In the backyard a basketball lay on the grass and children’s clothes and bed linen were hung on the clothesline.
Shocked neighbours said they knew the couple, who lived in the rented house for at least a year, had split up but never expected violence.
‘They seemed like a nice happy family. He was always polite and said hello,’ one said.
‘We would see them walk the kids to school and daycare up the road.’
Hannah Baxter, 31, jumped out of the white SUV (pictured) engulfed in flames yelling ‘he’s poured petrol on me’ and was hosed down by a heroic bystander
Mourners left messages to the victims at the scene on Wednesday
Queensland Police officers were called to a family violence incident that allegedly involved the couple just last month, the Courier Mail reported.
But neighbours said they never heard any fights or even either of the couple yelling at their children.
The only sounds that filled the air were happy children playing in the backyard.
However, friends said the breakup hit the former New Zealand Warrior hard and he was in a bad place.
Ms Baxter was staying with her parents since her marriage to the former footballer broke down over Christmas
Weightlifting friend Joey Abraham wrote to Baxter four days ago: ‘Chin up brother everything will work out just hang in there my bro.
‘A lot of people care about you and the situation your facing (sic).’
A reeling Mr Abraham told Daily Mail Australia after the incident: ‘Rowan was in a real bad place there for a bit because of the separation.
About 4pm, officers loaded the badly burned bodies of Baxter and his children into a New Haven Funerals van, before hosing down the street
‘If you knew Rowan when he at his best and to see him like last week then you know how far he’d fallen.
He was just a shadow of the person he used to be.
‘It’s just unbelievable that he could do this. They were beautiful kids, they were a beautiful family.’
After the couple split, they shut down the business they ran together, Integr8 Fitness, based at Capalaba.
Then just pile in existing background.
Wellwishers, including local councillors, placed flowers and teddy bears with messages of love and grief