THE rural community of Biddeston has been rocked by the deaths of three locals, which police have described as a tragedy.
Police attended the crime scene on the corner of the Toowoomba-Cecil Plains and Biddeston-Southbrook Roads at Biddeston, 25 minutes west of Toowoomba, on Monday evening.
At about 6.45pm on Monday, a female relative gained entry to the building by climbing through a window of the home and discovered three bodies.
A 52 year-old man, his 27-year-old daughter who police described as visibly pregnant, and her seven-year-old son were found inside the residence.
Detective Inspector David Isherwood described the event as a tragedy and said police were conducting investigations into what they believed to be a murder.
Detective Inspector David Isherwood addresses the media.
He said two people living in the town heard three distinct gunshots on Sunday night, possibly around 10.30pm.
"The adult male and female had very serious wounds to their bodies, both appear to have been shot in the head," he said.
The body of the female was found in the bathroom and the bodies of the man and child were found in a bedroom. The third shot was fired into the cornice of the bedroom and Police have not yet determined the cause of death of the child, who was found in bed. A high-calibre rifle was also found in the bedroom.
The family were known to police however nothing to suggest a motive has been discovered.
The Toowoomba Criminal Investigation Branch and the Homicide Investigation Group from State Crime Command as well Scientific and Scenes of Crimes Officers are conducting the investigation at the residence.
Detective Inspector David Isherwood said they would not disclose anything about the family as close members of the family have not been able to be contacted.
Police have ruled out another party being involved but would not confirm it was a murder-suicide until the investigation had been completed.
"Relatives will be shocked, just as the people of Biddeston will be shocked," he said.
"It's a small, quiet community and something like this to happen in a small community would impact on the community as a whole."
Melody Labinsky
Journalist for Queensland Country Life at Toowoomba.
Journalist for Queensland Country Life at Toowoomba.
