Australian father, two children found dead in Bali home in suspected murder suicide, shocking details emerge as cops launch probe

A chilling case of an alleged double murder-suicide has emerged where an Australian man and his two young children were found dead inside a home in Bali. The incident came to light after police officers were called to a property in Kuta on the Indonesian island of Bali. Upon arrival, officers discovered the bodies of three victims. One of them was identified as a father from Fremantle, Damien John Shaw, 56. The other two bodies were reportedly of his six-year-old son and four-year-old daughter.

Nine News reported that Shaw’s wife had called for a welfare check before the bodies were found. According to the Australian news outlet, authorities claimed that the woman heard one of her children crying while she was on the phone with her husband before the call disconnected. She was apparently travelling to Jakarta when she raised the alarm.

Neighbours forced their way into the property and discovered the bodies of the three victims before alerting local police. Officials are treating the investigation as a suspected murder suicide.


Nine News claimed that an autopsy is now under way. Shaw was “seeking employment [after] 37 years' experience in the maritime industry,” according to his LinkedIn profile.

A spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) said that it is extending consular assistance to the family of three Australians who died in Bali. “We send our deepest condolences to the family at this difficult time,” the spokesperson said, as quoted by Nine News. “Owing to our privacy obligations, we are unable to provide further comment.”

Western Australian Premier Roger Cook dubbed the incident as “horrific”. “A father and children have lost their lives,” Cook said in a statement. “There is a very confronting situation there. “This is a very sad situation, and our hearts go out to everyone involved, and we hope that we can get to the bottom of what’s gone on here as soon as possible.”