Indonesian police are investigating a suspected murder-suicide after the bodies of an Australian man and his two children were found in a home in Bali.
Police found the bodies of 56-year-old Damien John Shaw, along with his six-year-old son and four-year-old daughter, inside their bungalow at Kuta on Sunday morning.
In a statement, Bali Provincial Police said neighbours checked in on the family after a call from the man’s wife, who had recently arrived in Jakarta.
Damien John Shaw, 56, and his children were found dead in the family’s bungalow in Bali. (LinkedIn)
Police said the man’s wife called a neighbour after hearing her child cry while she was on the phone to Mr Shaw.
She told the neighbour the call was disconnected and her husband became unreachable.
The neighbour contacted others and then, along with the community head, forced the door to the Kuta bungalow open, discovering the bodies of the children and Mr Shaw.
Bali Provincial Police said the family had leased the bungalow in Kuta since 2022.
The three bodies were taken to a hospital in Denpasar, where police may conduct autopsies to confirm the causes of death.
In a statement, Denpasar City Police said a forensic examination of the scene was carried out on Sunday.
“Investigators are carrying out enquiries, including crime scene analysis, reviewing CCTV footage and interviewing witnesses, including the victim’s wife to establish the exact cause of death,” Senior Commissioner Leonardo D Simatupang said.
Police said they had spoken with the Australian Consulate.
‘Very sad’ case
Bandung police said Mr Shaw was born in Fremantle, Western Australia.
WA Premier Roger Cook described the news as a “horrific situation”.
“We know there is a very confronting situation there,” he said.
“This is a very sad situation; our hearts go out to everyone involved. We hope we can get to the bottom of what’s gone on as soon as possible.”
The 56-year-old man was found dead alongside his two children in Kuta, Bali.
(Supplied: Indonesian police)
A spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) said it was providing consular assistance to the family of the three Australians who died.
“We send our deepest condolences to the family at this difficult time,” they said.
“Owing to our privacy obligations, we are unable to provide further comment”.
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