A mother has been charged with the murder of her two sons after they were found dead in an apparent murder-suicide attempt.
The two boys, aged just nine and 11, were found at around 12.40pm on Tuesday at a house on Chapman Parade in Faulconbridge in Sydney’s Blue Mountains with stab wounds.
Their 42-year-old mother was airlifted to Westmead Hospital in Sydney after suffering self-inflicted injuries to her wrists.
On Friday evening, she was charged with two counts of murder (domestic violence).
Photos posted to social media in recent months show the family beaming with joy as they pose for photos with Santa, enjoy the family holiday and explore the wilderness around the Blue Mountains.
Just eight months ago, Google Street View images captured children’s Christmas decorations hanging in the front yard of the family’s home.
Retired Detective Steve Ticehurst, who lives around the corner from the family, said they were beloved members of the close-knit community.
A mother has been charged with killing her two sons after they were found dead in an apparent murder-suicide attempt
The family is depicted in happier times
A major police operation was launched in Faulconbridge after the bodies of two young boys were found in a house on Chapman Parade
The boys’ mother was taken to Westmead Hospital in Sydney with stab wounds
“They seemed like a very happy family, they’ve lived here for years, and you would never expect something like this to happen,” he told Daily Mail Australia.
‘They all came together to the local Christmas party and seemed like the perfect family.
‘The mother was known for taking walks in the area in the afternoon and we would always have a chat.
“There was never any indication that anything was wrong. I couldn’t say a bad word about them.”
Another neighbor, who wished to remain anonymous, said the entire neighborhood was shocked by the incident.
The boy’s father (pictured with his family) found the bodies of his sons and his former partner
The mother’s mental health will be part of the police investigation
The bodies of two young boys, aged 9 and 11, were discovered in a home in Faulconbridge (pictured are emergency workers at the scene in western Sydney)
The scene of the incident is just 450 metres from the famous Norman Lindsay Gallery in the Blue Mountains.
Residents said they had not seen the father “for a while” but that he would sometimes accompany the children and their mother to local events.
“You always saw her walking through the streets with her dogs and out with her sons,” the local resident said.
‘They were nice young guys.
“You would never think something like this could happen here – it’s a quiet community.”
The children’s father, who is separated from their mother and does not live at the same address, called Triple-0 when he visited the house and found the bodies of the boys and his former partner injured..
Shocked neighbors described the woman and her sons (pictured) as a very happy family
The boys, aged nine and eleven (both pictured), were found dead in the house on Tuesday
NSW Police said officers from the Blue Mountains Police Area Command are investigating the circumstances surrounding the deaths and are being assisted by detectives from the State Crime Command’s Homicide Squad.
The 42-year-old mother of two was airlifted to Westmead Hospital in a stable condition
Emergency services were called to the property on Chapman Parade at around 12.40pm on Tuesday
Neighbor Barbara Faith said she regularly saw the two brothers returning from school on their bicycles.
“They had their helmets on and they did the right thing… I just thought they were nice kids,” Ms Faith told the ABC.
She said that shortly after noon there was a big commotion and that about 20 emergency services rushed through her street.
“It’s such a quiet neighborhood and quiet street that you don’t expect things like that,” she said.
“It’s so sad, I can’t believe this could happen anywhere, let alone on my street.”
For free mental health support call Lifeline Australia: 13 11 14
