Community in shock after mum, kids killed
‘Horrific crime scene’ after triple murder in largely Kiwi neighbourhood in Perth
The man charged with murdering a Kiwi woman and her two children in their Perth home is understood to be the woman’s son. Michelle Petersen, 48, Bella, 15, and Rua, 8, were killed in their family home on Brixton Cres in Ellenbrook, Perth, on Sunday.
Teancum Vernon Petersen-Crofts, 19, has been charged with the murders. He appeared in the Midland’s Magistrates Court yesterday and was remanded into a mental health facility until his next court appearance.
Assistant Commissioner Paul Steel told reporters in Perth at the weekend a senior homicide squad investigating officer had said it was “potentially the most horrific crime scene he has ever been called to”.
As police opened the door, they saw Rua and Petersen dead inside, while Bella was in the backyard with critical injuries. An ambulance was called but the injured teenager died on the way to hospital. Police were seen taking a pair of scissors from the home yesterday afternoon.
A former Rotorua woman who lives near the scene of the grisly triple homicide said it had left the close-knit community in shock.
Sarah Bell moved to Perth from Rotorua in May 2015 and lives just 150m from Petersen’s home.
She said there were lots of New Zealanders in the area and they tended to stick together. It was very quiet and family-friendly, Bell said.
“For example, our local bowling club is managed by a guy and his family from Rotorua, so you get to understand how small of a community it really is,” she said. “I have no doubt the Kiwi community in Ellenbrook and Perth will rally around this family and friends and support them in whatever way we can, it’s that sort of community.”
A friend of the family, Toni Ata, posted a live video on social media after the tragedy.
“I just found out the most devastating news that my friend and her two babies were killed last night . . . And I’m so, so devastated,” she said through tears.
Ata said Petersen had a hard life but was doing well last time she saw her.
“She lost two babies years ago when they were babies too; sudden infant death syndrome. And she was an alcoholic for a really long time.
“Last time I saw her she had been sober for ages.”
Rua was the “light of [Petersen’s] life”, according to Ata.
“She just loved him,” she said. “It’s so sad that he’s gone too; [he was] such a cute little boy.”