What We Know About the Family Found Dead Inside Their Sydney Home

On Monday morning two Sydney children failed to show at St Lucy's School in Wahroonga, along with their mother, who was rostered to work in the school canteen. This prompted a call to police, who visited their family home in Davidson, around 20 minutes north of the CBD. Police from the Northern Beaches Local Area Command arrived at 11:20 AM to find four bodies spread throughout the house, including the deceased family dog. There was no sign of struggle and as yet, no indication as to what occurred.

In the 24 hours since it's been established the residence was home to a Colombian family of four: Fernando Manrique, 44, his wife Maria Claudia Lutz, 43, and their two kids Martin, 10, and Eliza, 11. It's understood both children suffered from autism and were unable to speak.

Several media outlets have theorised that the case appears is a murder-suicide, based on interviews with the family's neighbours. One neighbour told The Daily Telegraph how the mother had admitted to the difficulties of raising two mentally handicapped children.

"[She] used to tell me how hard it was on her and her husband having two kids who were deaf and dumb," the woman told The Daily Telegraph.

"She said it was a heavy thing on her heart and some days she found it impossible to cope. They were South American, such a lovely, friendly couple. I'm shocked to see police cars outside their house. They never caused anyone problems."

Another neighbour who lived opposite the home spoke about how surprised he was. "Nothing like this ever happens around here," he told the Telegraph. "It just goes to show you everyone has problems and you never know what happens behind closed doors."

On Monday afternoon Northern Beaches Local Area Command Superintendent Dave Darcy told reporters that all options were on the table. "I have specifically spoken with the homicide investigators and our investigators and we have come to a unanimous view that it is far too early to make such a conclusion," he said. "We're gradually working our way through a very tragic circumstance to get to the bottom of it."

Superintendent Darcy confirmed that they were not searching for a fugitive or suspect, but instead emphasised the difficulties of the case.

"Two young children have died, two adults have died, I just want to keep this investigation… untainted so our investigators can clearly and concisely get the information they need to come to the truth of what's happened."

While police attempted to contact the family's relatives in Colombia, the forensic services group and homicide squad began trawling the property around noon. News.com reported that by evening investigators wearing gas masks were seen entering the home. At around 9 PM the coroner arrived to remove the four bodies.

The Sydney Morning Herald is reporting that Mr Manrique was an executive with a business logistics company in the Philippines called Drake Business Services Asia. The paper attempted to contact to the business but staff were too upset to comment.

Maria Claudia Lutz was described as "an exceptional woman" by the acting principal of St Lucy's School, Warren Hopley, where her children were in grades four and five.

Mr Hopely turned down the suggestion there was were any signs to indicate something like this would happen. "Mum was always a very happy person, always greeted the school kids in the most wonderful way," he told The Sydney Morning Herald.

"When all the children leave at the end of the day she would be out there at the exit waiting for her kids and knew the names of every child in the school."

He also admitted the school was in a state of shock and that counsellors were on hand to offer support.

Superintendent Darcy also emphasised the trauma of the event. "It's extremely confronting, the officers—we consistently have these concern for welfare cases, and unfortunately in some cases this is what the police are confronted with," he told reporters.

It's expected a toxicology report will shed some light on what happened.