A father and his two-year-old son were found dead in a suspected murder-suicide after a custody visit. Police say the 38-year-old man had a history of domestic violence.
Police officers made the discovery at a Lismore unit in the NSW Northern Rivers at about 9.45pm on Sunday after the boy’s mother called for a welfare check.
The College Street unit block where the body of a father and son were found in East Lismore.Credit: Google Maps
Deputy Commissioner Peter Thurtell said the man, 38, was due to hand back his son to the mother at the end of a custody visit at 4.30pm. She raised the alarm an hour later when he failed to arrive with the boy.
“A more tragic event you wouldn’t come across, so that is very sad and that’s a matter now that is being investigated and a report will be prepared for the coroner,” Thurtell said.
“He was known to police for previous DV matters, but not significant issues.”
Thurtell said no weapon was used but would not say exactly how the father and son died.
“It was no doubt that the father has created a system where both he and the child have passed away as a result of the system,” he said.
When asked about the welfare of the officers who made the grim discovery of the bodies, Thurtell said the police was more concerned for the welfare of the mother.
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