HUSBAND’S HORROR FIND THREE DEAD IN SUICIDE PACT

A HUSBAND returned home from shopping to find his wife, mother-in-law and sister-inlaw dead after a triple suicide in Paradise Point.

Yesterday afternoon three women, believed to be a 78year-old mother and her two daughters aged 54 and 53, were found deceased in their Ephraim Island ground floor unit.

It is believed the trio died in a suicide pact inspired by a website.

Detective Senior-Sergeant Mark Procter of the Coomera Crime Investigative Branch said all three women died the same way within the small unit.

“The husband of one of the women has been shopping and come back to find the (women deceased),” he said.

“He’s pretty shaken.”

Det Procter said all three women were believed to have had medical issues.

“(The husband) is not surprised that has happened, I think he’s surprised it’s three of them at once.”

According to local residents, the mother had been living with a disabled daughter on the island for a number of years.

It is understood the other daughter moved in with her husband in the adjoining building less than 12 months ago.

Last night a number of police investigated the scene with firefighters and paramedics called to the area as well.

A spokesperson for the Queensland Fire Emergency Services said they were called to make the scene safe before entering just after 3pm.

Paramedics later declared the women deceased and said they “didn’t need to treat anyone.”

Local Lance Cushion, who has lived in the area for more than two years said the island was generally quiet.

“You very rarely have any incidents at Ephraim Island so to hear something like occur is quite alarming,” he said.

Resident Frank Lambert said it was shocking and the island was normally a “pleasant place” to live.

“It’s very sad that this happened,” he said.

Another resident, who declined to be named, said he wasn’t surprised by the tragedy.

He said he had met the family in the halls of the building every now and then, describing one of the women as “nervy”.

Det Senior Srgt Procter said there were no suspicious circumstances.

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