POLICE were in a desperate search late on Tuesday night for a man following the deaths of a woman and three young children that rocked the Lockhart and Boree Creek communities.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
A strike force to investigate the deaths has been established, as crime scene investigators worked into the night at a rural property on the Lockhart-Boree Creek Road, south of Boree Creek, to determine how they died.
While the bodies are yet to be formally identified, it’s believed they are a 41-year-old woman, Kim Hunt, and her three children – 10-year-old Fletcher, eight-year-old Mia and Phoebe, six. Police are now desperate to find Geoff Hunt, Kim's husband and the father of the three children, who has been missing since the bodies were discovered.
RELATED | How the tragedy unfolded on Tuesday
A post mortem will be conducted, but they are believed to have all suffered gunshot wounds.
A 44-year-old man who usually resides at the property remained unaccounted for late on Tuesday night, Wagga Local Area Commander Superintendent Bob Noble said.
"He presents concerns for us on a number of levels and it's really important that we locate him," Superintendent Noble told The Daily Advertiser.
The man has been described as being caucasian, of medium athletic build, about 193cm tall, with short brown hair, a clean-shaven face and no known tattoos or body piercing.
Superintendent Noble said it was unknown if he was in a vehicle.
"Our focus beyond that (the crime scene at the property) turns to this particular individual, this male adult, because in the first instance we're very concerned for his welfare," he said.
"We're obviously also concerned about what part he has had to play in the circumstances as they unfolded there this afternoon.
"There is an element of concern that if he is at large he might be dangerous, so ... that's a focus for us at present."
At least six police vehicles rushed to the property about 3pm after the alarm was raised.
On a path at the rear of the house, officers located the body of a woman.
Two crime scenes were 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 ute.
The crime scenes will be examined by specialist forensic officers throughout the night.
Police divers will search the dam and other waterways on Wednesday.
The bodies could have been at the home for some time before authorities arrived.
"It does appear, at least on a cursory level, that it had been some considerable hours before the police were called," Superintendent Noble said.
"It's impossible to say that with any definition at this stage, until that crime scene examination has occurred, but circumstances lead one to believe that it had possibly been quite some hours."
Superintendent Noble described the scene as tragic, but couldn't elaborate on the exact circumstances surrounding the deaths.
"It's obviously an incident of the gravest and most tragic type," he said.
"We're keeping an open mind about it, we're assuming nothing.
"It's pretty clear we're dealing with offences at one level or another, of the most serious type, so to that end we're ruling nothing out.
"It would be reasonable to say that there are some hardened and experienced police involved that are quite taken aback, to say the least, about what's transpired out there today (yesterday)."
Superintendent Noble wouldn't be drawn on who alerted authorities.
"Only that it was a member of the public visited the house and raised the alarm, I can't say anything more than that," he said.
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.
The Strike Force comprises officers from Wagga Local Area Command, who are being assisted by detectives from State Crime Command’s Homicide Squad.
* Support is available for anyone who may be distressed by calling Lifeline 131 114, Mensline 1300 789 978, Kids Helpline 1800 551 800.