The deaths of a Perth mother and daughter at the hands of angry gunmen has left a young woman the only surviving member of her family as she continues to mourn the loss of her father.
Jennifer Petelczyc, 59, and her daughter Gretl, 18, were shot dead by Mark James Bombara, 63, at their Floreat home in Perth’s west on Friday, before turning the gun on himself.
Bombara had broken into the house on a quiet, upscale street looking for his ex-wife, a good friend of Jennifer’s.
It is understood he tied up the two women after failing to find his ex, before making several threatening phone calls.
He and Jennifer died at the property, while paramedics took Gretl to hospital, where she later died.
Friends said the family was still struggling to come to terms with the loss of husband and father Jon to cancer in 2019.
They had also recently lost their beloved family dog, Sunny, a golden Labrador.
Friday’s tragedy leaves her daughter Liesl as the only surviving member of her immediate family.
Close family friend Daele Dobsen told Daily Mail Australia on Saturday that Petelczyc was a devoted mother and lamented that Gretl, who recently obtained her P plates, was just starting out in life.
Gretl, who recently obtained her P plates, was just starting out in life after graduating from high school and beginning a sports degree at the University of WA.
The deaths of Petelczyc and Gretl are the latest tragedies to befall the family after father and husband Jon (pictured with Petelczyc) died in 2019.
Friday’s tragedy leaves his daughter Liesl as the only surviving member of the immediate family.
Dobsen said she did not want Petelczyc and Gretl to be remembered as “victims by association of domestic violence.”
“I want them to be remembered as beautiful members of our community and I am overwhelmed by their loss,” she said.
‘In my friendship with Jenny, I found her to be very kind and generous to me and my family, even opening her home to host my son’s 18th birthday party last year when I couldn’t find a venue.
“Jenny was a devoted mother who would do anything for her daughters.”
The loss of Sunny also weighed heavily on the family, who were ambassadors for the Guide Dog Association, Dobsen said.
“The family took in Sunny… for the Guide Dog Association, they ended up being able to keep her and they loved her beyond measure and were devastated when they lost her,” he said.
More recently, the family dog, Sunny, had also died, family friend Daele Dobsen told Daily Mail Australia.
Mrs Petelczyc and Bombara died at the scene and Gretl was seriously injured and later died in hospital.
Gretl’s older sister, Liesl, who police say was not at the property at the time of the incident, is the surviving member of the family.
Dobsen said Jennifer, Gretl and Liesl were still coming to terms with Jon’s death.
“The girls and their mother were still adjusting to the loss of their father (and) her husband, who was a vital member of the family,” Ms Dobsen said.
‘Jenny was mostly treading water, trying to steer and guide the girls safely on her own. There wasn’t a day that she didn’t think about her husband.
In 2019, Petelczyc wrote that she didn’t know if her heart would “be mended or learn to live in pieces” in her husband’s eulogy.
“Jon, you were the love of my life, I don’t know if my broken heart will mend or learn to live in pieces,” she wrote.
‘If I could choose again, I would still choose you.
‘Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. Eternally yours, Jenny.
Upon hearing of the latest tragedy to befall the family, another friend, Emme Wild, said she was “devastated beyond belief.”
Mrs Dobsen said Mrs Petelczyc was a good friend who will be greatly missed
Jenny Petelczyc, 59, and her daughter Gretl, 18, (pictured together) were shot by Mark James Bombara, 63, at their Floreat home in Perth’s west on Friday in a double murder-suicide .
Dobsen said Gretl had excelled in life since graduating from St Hilda’s Anglican School in 2022 and starting her sports degree at the University of WA.
“Gretl was just starting out in life, pursuing her love of sport through her studies… She was a talented water polo player and worked locally part-time to earn her independence,” Mrs Dobsen said.
At a press conference Saturday afternoon, Washington Police Detective Inspector David Gorton revealed that Bombara, a registered gun owner, visited the home looking for his ex-wife before shooting the two women.
WA Police Detective Inspector David Gorton revealed Bombara (pictured), a registered gun owner, visited the house looking for his ex-wife before shooting the two women.
WA Police Detective Inspector David Gorton revealed Bombara, a registered gun owner, visited the home looking for his ex-wife before shooting the two women.
Inspector Gorton also confirmed that Bombara’s ex-wife and a daughter were in the care of the homicide squad.
“We are giving them all the support we can,” he said.
“They are obviously very distressed by the circumstances and will be referred appropriately for advice by WA Police.”
Police were called to the home in the city’s northwest around 4:30 p.m. local time on Friday after the gunman opened fire.
A large police presence was at the scene of the shooting overnight.
A police helicopter was sent to the area and circled over the flashpoint of the response.
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