Police believe the three children found dead at home in Melbourne’s north were killed by their mother in a murder suicide.
Victoria Police investigators said they have formed the view that Katie Perinovic killed Claire, seven, Anna, five, Matthew, three, and herself at their Tullamarine home.
‘Homicide Squad investigators have formed the preliminary view that the 42-year-old woman is responsible for all four deaths,’ police said in a statement on Friday.
The bodies were found at home after midday on Thursday, with Ms Perinovic’s husband Tomislav raising the alarm with a harrowing Triple Zero call.
Detectives said they do not believe Mr Perinovic was involved in the incident, and he has been released without charge.
‘Investigators do not believe the 48-year-old man was involved in the incident and police are not looking for anyone further in relation to the matter.’
Homicide Squad detectives aren’t looking for anyone further over the deaths.
Paramedics found the bodies of Katie Perinovic and Claire, seven, Anna, five, and Matthew, three (all pictured). The father, Tomislav, has been released without charge, and police believe he wasn’t involved in the deaths
Crime scene cleaners arrived at the well-maintained home in hazmat suits and forensic gloves on Friday
A heartbroken friend of Ms Perinovic said she was notably ‘withdrawn’ in the weeks leading up to the deaths.
Marie Groves, a neighbour, had become close to her as their children often played together.
She said the mother attended a party at her house for her daughter’s birthday in November, and was unusually quiet.
‘She was more withdrawn than I’ve seen her ever in the past,’ Ms Groves told Daily Mail Australia.
‘There were a few other mums here and they did notice she seemed a bit quiet on that day.’
Ms Groves said: ‘Those kids were full of life. They were your picture perfect kids.’
Police said there was no history of family violence involving the family. Pictured: Katie and Tomislav Perinovic with their daughter
Mourners pay their respects at the home in Tullamarine on Friday, above
Bouquets were piling up out the front of the blond-brick property on Friday morning
Children’s drawings are seen stuck on the window at the house in Tullamarine
Others who knew the mother said she often visited the local library with her young kids and would lovingly sing songs and read to them.
The crime scene was described as ‘gruesome’ by police, who did not go into detail about the nature of the family’s 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.
Neighbour and friend, Marie Groves, (pictured) said Ms Perinovic was very ‘withdrawn’ and quiet when she saw her at the end of November at her daughter’s birthday party
It’s believed she may have fallen into a depression in the lead up to her death.
She had worked at the clinic for seven years, according to the website.
Neighbour Ms Groves said that she still hadn’t processed the shocking news of the family’s deaths.
‘It hasn’t sunk in that I’m not going to walk out the door and see her walking past to the milk bar and picking up pizzas with the kids,’ she told the ABC.
‘She was Katie, smiley face Katie, who would always stop and chat.’
Another 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’.’
Neighbours were left devastated upon hearing the tragic news of the well loved family
A mourner leaves flowers at the home in Tullamarine after the tragedy on Thursday
Police have taped off the area at Burgess Street following the four deaths
Cleaners are seen arriving at the home in Tullamarine as investigations into the deaths continue
The father appeared ‘extremely distressed’ on the street when emergency services arrived.
Residents have been left shocked by the deaths which have rocked what they describe as a quiet area.
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
The scene at 56 Burgess St, Tullamarine, where Katie Perinovic and her three young children died
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
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 a 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.
Homicide detectives are investigating after three children and their mother were found dead inside a home in Melbourne