11.50pm: A STRIKE Force has been established to investigate the deaths of a woman and three children who died at a property near Boree Creek on Tuesday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Strike Force Tullaroan is comprised of officers from Wagga Local Area Command and detectives from State Crime Command’s Homicide Squad.
Police were called to a rural property on Lockhart-Boree Creek Road, about 13km north-west of Lockhart, around 3pm.
Inside the house, officers located the bodies of three children.
On a path at the rear of the house, they located the body of a woman.
While the bodies are yet to be formally identified, it’s believed they are a 41-year-old woman and her three children – a 10-year-old boy, and two girls aged eight and six.
Two crime scenes have been established at the property.
One is located at the homestead; the other is near a dam where police searching the property found an unattended white utility.
The crime scenes will be examined by specialist forensic officers throughout the night.
Police divers will search the dam and other waterways on Wednesday.
While a post-mortem will be conducted to establish how the four people died, it’s believed they sustained gun shot wounds.
Meanwhile, police have grave concerns for a 44-year-old man who remains unaccounted for, and are appealing for information from the public to help locate him.
The man is described as being of Caucasian appearance, about 193cm tall, with a medium and athletic build, short brown hair, and a clean-shaven face.
People with information about the man’s whereabouts are asked to contact Strike Force Tullaroan investigators via Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
If the man is sighted, do not to approach him, but contact Triple-0 immediately.
That concludes The Daily Advertiser's coverage for Tuesday. Further details will be posted on Wednesday, as they become available.
11.30pm: BOREE Creek's biggest claim to fame is former Deputy Prime Minister Tim Fischer calls it home.
His property near the town - which is located about 539 kilometres south-west of Sydney and about 80km west of Wagga - reportedly became the seat of power in Australia when Fischer was acting prime minister.
It's a small, close-knit community of about 271 - which includes the surrounds - one that will be sure to feel the devastation of losing four of their own.
The property where a woman - believed to be aged in her 40s - and three young children - aged 10 and under - were found dead sits almost halfway between Boree Creek and nearby Lockhart.
At this time of the year, the countryside looks picture perfect; a picture that was tainted uncomprehendingly today.
Four lives ended.
How? A police investigation throughout the night will go some way to determine what unfolded inside a house on the property on Tuesday.
10.25pm: Police have issued a description of the man they are now looking for after the grim discovery at Boree Creek.
Wagga LAC commander Supt Bob Noble has told The Daily Advertiser that investigations will continue through the night.
A man who is "normally an occupant of that premises" was not found at the property, and police are now trying to find him.
Supt Bob Noble has described the man as:
- Caucasian
- Medium build
- Mid-40s in appearance
- Around six feet-four inches, or 190cm, tall
- Short brown hair
- Clean-shaven
- Fair complexion
- No known tattoos, piercings or other peculiarities
"Whilst we've got a crime scene examination occurring as we speak, our focus beyond that turns to locating this particular individual, this male adult," Supt Noble said.
"In the first instance we're very concerned for his welfare, we're obviously also concerned about what part he has had to play in the circumstances as that unfolded there this afternoon.
"I'm unable to state whether he may be in a vehicle, because we just don't know.
"Our focus is now on locating him. To that end, we would encourage anyone who may have any information relating to that person (to contact police)."
8.50pm: Investigators at the Boree Creek property crime scene will be working on the edge of an area forecast to be hit by a severe thunderstorm.
The Bureau of Meteorology issued a severe thunderstorm warning for damaging wind earlier on Tuesday evening.
Strong winds are likely to hit the north-western part of the Riverina in the next several hours, the BoM warns.
8.40pm: The deaths of a woman and three young children has "devastated" the region, Lockhart mayor Peter Yates.
"It's devastated the whole community," Cr Yates told The Daily Advertiser.
"We're all saddened by it, of course ... I know the family, they're a well-respected farming family and it's just so devastating.
"I just can't believe it ... especially when there's children involved, they had their whole lives ahead of them."
Police are yet to release the names of the deceased, and that of the remaining family member who is still unaccounted for.
7.32pm: Forensic services have arrived at the property, where investigations by specialist police are set to continue overnight.
Advertiser journalist Andrew Pearson filed this report a short time ago.
7.30pm: NSW police have issued a statement, revealing a little more about the victims.
"About 3pm, police went to the property on the Lockhart/Boree Creek Road in Lockhart where they found the bodies inside a house," it read.
"While they have not yet been formally identified, they are believed to be a woman, aged in her 40s, two girls and a boy, aged 10 and under."
7pm: Daily Advertiser journalist Andrew Pearson is at the scene, where, he reports, police are setting in for the night.
"Both entry points to the property are being manned by police and an SES unit from The Rock has just arrived to light the scene," he said.
"Supt Noble said police are concerned for the welfare of a male also missing from the property. No further information is available at this time."
6.45pm: Volunteers from The Rock's State Emergency Service have arrived at the property to assist investigators with lighting at the scene.
6.15pm: A woman and three children have been found dead in a Riverina farmhouse, and police hold grave concerns for a man missing from the property.
Paramedics and police from Wagga and neighbouring local area commands responded to calls around 3pm, with at least half-a-dozen police vehicles rushing to a property south of Boree Creek, 80 kilometres west of Wagga.
Commander of Wagga LAC, Superintendent Bob Noble, confirmed that the bodies of four people were found at the home.
"There are a number of deceased people in a farmhouse on the property," Supt Noble told The Daily Advertiser.
Supt Noble confirmed the bodies are those of a woman and three children, who are understood to have suffered gunshot wounds.
Police are now looking for a man, believed to be the male occupant of the property, who is yet to be accounted for.
A large police contingent has been at the scene for several hours, however Supt Noble could not reveal further circumstances surrounding the deaths.
"We're very concerned for the welfare of that individual," he said.
"It's very early in the investigation."
If you need help
Lifeline – 13 11 14
Suicide Call Back Service – 1300 659 467
Kids Helpline – 1800 55 1800
MensLine Australia – 1300 78 99 78