The devastated father of two young children suspected of being murdered by their mother in a suicide attempt has told police of the devastating moment he discovered their lifeless bodies.
Retail executive Nick Smith rushed to his ex’s home in the quiet village of Faulconbridge in the Blue Mountains west of Sydney at lunchtime on Tuesday after failing to reach his ex-partner Trish Smith.
Her two young sons, Russell, 11, and Ben, nine, had not arrived at Our Lady of the Nativity Elementary School in the nearby town of Lawson as expected that morning.
But nothing could prepare his father for the gruesome scene he discovered after arriving at his modest wooden bungalow in quiet Chapman Parade shortly before 12.40pm.
Both sons were dead, apparently from stab wounds, while their 42-year-old mother lay bleeding from cuts to her wrists.
After calling triple zero, Mr Smith waited at the scene with his children until the police and emergency services arrived.
Ms Smith was flown to Westmead Hospital under police custody and treated for her self-inflicted injuries before being placed under arrest.
Trish Smith is pictured with her sons Russell and Ben
As police established a crime scene at the home, Mr Smith, who was not living with the family at the time of the tragedy, travelled to nearby Springwood Police Station to assist homicide detectives with their investigation.
No charges have been filed in connection with the incident.
The former couple, who first bought the house 14 years ago, were well-known and loved members of the close-knit community and regular attendees of the local Christmas street party.
Ms Smith worked for the state government’s Greater Sydney Local Land Service, while her ex-husband is Big W’s head of replenishment.
The crime scene has been closed for more than 24 hours as detectives work to reconstruct the events leading up to the tragedy.
Mr Smith’s Mercedes-Benz SUV remained outside the family’s property, which was cordoned off with police tape.
Detectives were still removing bags of evidence Wednesday morning as devastated local residents bussed their children past the home on their way to local schools Springwood High and Springwood Public down the street.
A local who knew the family brought his son who left a toy truck at the scene.
Residents laid tributes outside the home on Wednesday as investigators continued to investigate the scene.
Flowers were also left outside the Catholic elementary school they attended, about 8 miles away.
The young brothers had been popular students and appeared in dozens of Facebook posts, where they were seen smiling and receiving awards.
They had attended school on Monday and detectives are now investigating what led to their absence on Tuesday before the tragic events that later unfolded at their home.
Parramatta Diocese Catholic Schools issued a statement on behalf of the school, saying everyone who knew the young men was heartbroken by their loss.
Residents began placing tributes at the home on Wednesday as detectives continued to investigate the scene.
“Our Catholic school community is devastated by the tragic deaths of Ben and Russell, two students at Our Lady of the Nativity Elementary School in Lawson,” the statement said.
‘Students and staff at Our Lady of the Nativity are currently receiving wellbeing advice and support, which will continue to be provided in the coming weeks.
‘The care and kindness of the wider Blues Mountains community at this difficult time is greatly appreciated.
‘As police investigations continue, we are unable to comment further at this time.’
Blue Mountains Commander John Nelson said detectives from the State Crime Command’s homicide squad were assisting local officers.
They are understood to be investigating whether Ms Smith may have suffered a psychotic episode before the tragedy.
The boy’s father (pictured with his family) found the bodies of his children and his ex-partner.
A blue tarp hangs in front of the house where the children were found.
Forensic experts remove bags of evidence from the house
Police continued to examine the crime scene on Wednesday morning.
Asked if Ms Smith had a history of mental health issues, he confirmed: “We knew the mother but only for minor issues so it wouldn’t be appropriate (to comment) at this stage.”
Many of the family’s neighbours told Daily Mail Australia they were too shocked by the violent nature of the alleged murders to fully process it yet.
They were stunned on Tuesday afternoon when they heard police sirens on their usually quiet street, just 450 metres from the area’s famous Norman Lindsay gallery.
Photos posted on social media show the family beaming with joy as they posed for photographs with Santa Claus, enjoyed the family holiday and explored the nature around the Blue Mountains.
Just eight months ago, Google Streetview imagery captured children’s Christmas decorations hanging in the front yard of the family’s home.
Ms Smith has also previously referenced mental health online while working during the state’s coronavirus lockdown, posting: “Mental health isn’t just for the diagnosed.”
Retired homicide detective Steve Ticehurst, who lives around the corner from the young family, said they were much-loved members of the close-knit community.
“They seemed like a very happy family, they had lived here for years and no one would have imagined something like this could happen,” she told Daily Mail Australia.
‘They all gathered at the local Christmas street party and seemed like the perfect family.
‘Mom was known to take exercise walks around the area in the evenings and we would always chat for a while.
“There was never any indication that anything was wrong. I couldn’t say anything bad about them.”
Another resident, who did not want to reveal his name, said the entire community was shocked by the incident.
“We used to see her walking her dogs on the streets all the time and with her children,” the local resident said.
‘They were lovely lads.
“You would never think something like this could happen here. It’s a quiet community.”
Residents said they had not seen Mr Smith around “for a while” but that he had once joined the children and their mother at local events.
The family is pictured in happier times. Father Nick Smith is on the right.
Blue Mountains Commander John Nelson said local officers were receiving assistance from detectives from the State Crime Command’s homicide squad.
Neighbor Barbara Faith said she regularly saw the two brothers riding their bikes home from school.
“They had their helmets on and were doing the right thing… I thought they were lovely kids,” Faith told ABC.
He said there was a huge commotion shortly after noon with about 20 emergency vehicles racing down his street.
“It’s such a quiet neighborhood and such a quiet street that you don’t expect that kind of thing,” he said.
“It’s so sad, I can’t believe this could happen anywhere, let alone on my street.”
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