Police are investigating the possibility a family of four in Sydney's northern beaches died from an air-borne gas.
The bodies of 44-year-old father Fernando Manrique, 43-year-old mother Maria Lutz, their 11-year-old daughter Elisa and 10-year-old son Martin were discovered in their Davidson home on Monday after police forced entry to the house.
The family dog was also found dead inside the property by officers responding to concerns for the family's welfare.
In a statement, NSW Police said cause of death would be a matter for the Coroner to determine, but they were "looking at the possibility the family members died from the introduction of an air-borne gas".
Police are awaiting toxicology reports and the results of post-mortems to determine the likely cause of the family's deaths.
The home remains a crime scene as forensic specialists continue their examinations.
There were reportedly no signs of violence or any visible injuries on the bodies of the four who had moved to Sydney from Colombia about a decade ago.
The bodies were found in separate locations inside the home, and it's unknown how long they were there before police arrived just after 11am on Monday, Network Seven reports.
Police believe they are dealing with murder-suicide of four people, who show no visible signs of injury.
Elisa and Martin both suffered intellectual disabilities and were students at St Lucy's in Wahroonga, a school for children with high complex needs.
RELATED READING
'Exceptional' family found dead in Sydney
Concerns were raised when Ms Lutz, who volunteers in the school's canteen, failed to show up and could not be reached.
Acting principal Warren Hopley said the school was devastated by the news and described Ms Lutz as "an exceptional woman".
Maria-Elena Chidzey, president of the Colombia in Australia Cultural Association and a multicultural community worker at the Manly Community Centre, told SBS News it was common for migrant families to feel isolated in their new country.
"Many people arrive, they don’t know anybody, or if they do know, they don’t want to tell them how they feel so it’s very good for people to know that they can call organisations like my own organisation, the Manly Community Centre, or they can call Lifeline or beyondblue," she said.
"People sometimes think if you mention the word 'mental' it’s because they are crazy. You don’t have to.
"You just can be going through a time, a situation that you are finding difficult to cope with and it happens to all of us. We all find ourselves in situations like that. The difference is, some of us have somebody to speak with."
Ms Chidzey, who did not know the family, said migrants to Australia often felt they would be judged by members of their own communities if they discussed problems they were having at home.
"Please do speak about what is going on in your life that you are finding difficult to cope with," she said.
"Since this thing happened with this family I have been getting calls from people from different organisations, from the community itself, telling me that there are people out there who are organising groups to help people who are arriving new who may be feeling isolated just to give them that kind of group feeling that ‘I belong to something, I am in company with other people’.
"But if you just get yourself into your little cocoon and don’t express how you are feeling it’s very dangerous because people feel very isolated."
Ms Chidzey encouraged people who had come to Australia and were struggling to contact their consulate or organisations like Lifeline, beyondblue or the Transcultural Mental Health Service.
'You are a warrior'
Ms Lutz's sister, Ana, posted tributes in Spanish on social media after being told the devastating news.
"No one can say anything different than you are a warrior! Always fighting for everyone. My beautiful doll ... one more angel in heaven. An angel dedicated to your children, life! I love you fighting untiringly for others. Always in my life, in my heart. I love you" the message said.
Alarm bells rang on Monday when Ms Lutz didn't turn up to her weekly volunteer canteen duty at her childrens' school St Lucy's, which caters for children with high complex needs.
"They were wonderful, a fantastic family. They had time for everyone, devoted so much time to the school," the mother of a child in the same year as Elisa told AAP.
"We all struggle when you have a special needs child. It's hard for everyone," Josie Gigliotti told AAP on Tuesday.
"But, you know, we're all there for each other. She was so strong, she never really let us in to know how hard she was doing it.
"Pray for us, our school and our community. Because we are going to be struggling with this."
A prayer service was held for the Manrique-Lutz family at St Lucy's on Tuesday morning.
The school has offered counselling for the teachers and students, and will hold a service for the children in the coming days.
Readers seeking support and information about suicide prevention can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.
Suicide Call Back Service: 1300 659 467.
Multicultural Mental Health Australia: www.mmha.org.au.
Manly Community Centre: 9977 1066, www.manlycommunitycentre.com.au.
- with AAP
