Tullamarine family: How a ‘depressed’ mum abruptly quit her job before being found dead

A ‘depressed’ Melbourne mother quit her job as a physiotherapist just three months before being found dead inside her home alongside her three young children.

Paramedics found the bodies of Katie Perinovic, 43, and her three children – Claire, seven, Anna, five, and Matthew, three, inside their Tullamarine home on Thursday at 12.30pm.

Tomislav Perinovic, the children’s father, is being treated as a ‘person of interest’. 

Victoria Police told Daily Mail Australia Mr Perinovic was still in custody and assisting investigators with their inquiries at 12.30am on Friday, 12 hours after he first called police in an ‘extremely distressed’ state.

Police were unable to confirm whether they expected any charges to be laid or if he would be released overnight.

Paramedics found the bodies of Katie Perinovic and Claire, seven, Anna, five, and Matthew, three (all pictured). The father of the children, Tomislav Perinovic (left)  is assisting police with inquiries 

Police said there was no history of family violence involving the family. Pictured: Katie and Tomislav Perinovic with their daughter

Police said there was no history of family violence involving the family. Pictured: Katie and Tomislav Perinovic with their daughter 

Emergency crews were called to the house on Burgess Street, Tullamarine about 12.30pm on Thursday

Emergency crews were called to the house on Burgess Street, Tullamarine about 12.30pm on Thursday

Acting Assistant Commissioner Mark Galliott said officers would remain at the ‘gruesome’ crime scene throughout the night but refused to elaborate on their injuries.

Ms Perinovic, who also goes by the surname Blazevic, unexpectedly left her job at Glenroy Physiotherapy Centre about three months ago, The Herald Sun reported. 

It’s believed she may have fallen into a depression in the lead up to her death.

Ms Perinovic’s neighbour John Constantino said he chatted with the mother-of-three the night before she died and noticed nothing out of the ordinary.

‘I was watering the garden about 7.30pm and she walked past and she seemed happy and everything,’ he told The Age.

‘She asked me what I was going to do tomorrow, I said, “I might mow the lawn” and she said “yeah, it’s not going to be a hot day”.’

Mr Constantino said Ms Perinovic was a ‘lovely’ woman whose kids would often pat his dogs as they walked past his house.  

Acting Assistant Commissioner Mark Galliott said officers would remain at the 'gruesome' crime scene throughout the night

Acting Assistant Commissioner Mark Galliott said officers would remain at the ‘gruesome’ crime scene throughout the night

Victoria Police told Daily Mail Australia that Mr Perinovic was still in custody and assisting investigators with their inquiries at 12.30am on Friday (scene pictured late on Thursday)

Victoria Police told Daily Mail Australia that Mr Perinovic was still in custody and assisting investigators with their inquiries at 12.30am on Friday (scene pictured late on Thursday)

Paramedics found the bodies of 43-year-old Katie Perinovic and three children - Claire, seven, Anna, five, and Matthew, three

Paramedics found the bodies of 43-year-old Katie Perinovic and three children – Claire, seven, Anna, five, and Matthew, three

It's believed Ms Perinovic may have fallen into a depression in the lead up to her death

It’s believed Ms Perinovic may have fallen into a depression in the lead up to her death

Police have confirmed they are probing multiple different scenarios – including murder-suicide.    

Acting Deputy Commissioner Robert Hill said while the investigation is in its very early stages, the family ‘died in suspicious circumstances’.

‘As to who is culpable for the death of the four people that is yet to be determined and we should not draw any conclusions at this point in time,’ he said.  

He said it would be ‘grossly unfair’ to assume culpability on the basis that Mr Perinovic is assisting police.  

‘We just need to understand the facts, and unfortunately they’re not known to us but will be in the fullness of time,’ he said.

‘We have a long way to go before we can actually understand and appreciate what occurred.’ 

The father, who made the triple-0 call, appeared ‘extremely distressed’ on the street when emergency serviced arrived.  

Police have confirmed they are probing multiple different scenarios including murder-suicide

Police have confirmed they are probing multiple different scenarios including murder-suicide 

Residents have been left shocked by the deaths which have rocked what they describe to be a quiet area

Residents have been left shocked by the deaths which have rocked what they describe to be a quiet area

‘He was standing on the street, looking distraught,’ a witness said. 

Dep Comm Hill, who declined to comment on the nature of the family’s injuries, said investigators don’t believe there are other parties involved at this stage.  

Police said there is no risk to the community and there was no history of family violence.   

Residents have been left shocked by the deaths which have rocked what they describe as a quiet area.

Neighbour Marie Groves said Ms Perinovic was a devoted mother whose children often came to her house for play dates with her kids. 

The scene at 56 Burgess St, Tullamarine, where Katie Perinovic and her three young children died

The scene at 56 Burgess St, Tullamarine, where Katie Perinovic and her three young children died

Forensic officers are seen at work at a crime scene in Tullamarine

Forensic officers are seen at work at a crime scene in Tullamarine

Officers who were called to the scene in Tullamarine stand with police tape on Thursday

Officers who were called to the scene in Tullamarine stand with police tape on Thursday

Emergency crews were called to the house in Tullamarine, Melbourne's north-west, on Thursday afternoon

Emergency crews were called to the house in Tullamarine, Melbourne’s north-west, on Thursday afternoon

‘She was a well known, beautiful and a very tall lady, very gorgeous and every time she walked past always had a smile on her face (and was) always chatting to everybody,’ she told The Australian.  

Tara Jenkins, who lives around the corner from the family, said she was ‘absolutely gutted’ by the ‘devastating’ turn of events.

‘Those kids were so young, just beautiful little kids. ‘[Their mother] was always alone with them and was a very loving mother,’ she told The Age.

We would often say hello to each other as our kids played. She was always really cheerful and kind … just a lovely woman.’

A neighbour who lives next door said he heard the commotion of the emergency crews but was advised to stay inside. 

Another neighbour named Johnie said the police helicopter hovered above his house for an hour on Thursday.

‘It’s a bit too much for a local neighbourhood like this,’ he said.  

Police said the exact circumstances around the incident are under investigation. 

Aerial images from Thursday afternoon show a heavy police presence outside a home. 

The street has been cordoned off to the public.  

Homicide detectives are investigating after three children and their mother were found dead inside a home in Melbourne

Homicide detectives are investigating after three children and their mother were found dead inside a home in Melbourne

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