Detectives are continuing to gather evidence at the scene of a devastating double murder where two young boys were allegedly killed at their hands of their own mother.
Russell and Ben Smith, aged nine and 11, were allegedly found stabbed to death in their family’s home in the sleepy Blue Mountains village of Faulconbridge about 12.40pm on Tuesday.
The boys’ father, Nick Smith, who does not live with them, called emergency services after discovering the gruesome scene.
His ex-wife, Trish Smith, was airlifted to Westmead Hospital under police guard and treated for self-inflicted cuts to her wrists before the 42-year-old was later placed under arrest.
Charges were yet to be laid on Wednesday morning.
The crime scene has remained in lockdown overnight as forensic officers complete their investigation.
Detectives were still removing bags of evidence on Wednesday morning as devastated local residents ferried their children past the home on the way to the local Springwood High and Springwood Public schools at the end of the street.
Mr Smith’s Mercedes-Benz station wagon also remained outside the family’s property – a modest weatherboard bungalow at odds with many of the street’s new homes.
Residents began to lay tributes at the house on Wednesday even as detectives continued to investigate the scene.
The young brothers were popular students at the nearby Our Lady of the Nativity Catholic school in the village of Lawson.
They had attended school on Monday, with detectives now investigating what triggered their absence on Tuesday ahead of the tragic events that would later unfold at their home.
Blue Mountains Commander John Nelson said local officers were being assisted by detectives from State Crime Command’s homicide squad.
Asked whether Ms Smith had a historic of mental health issues, he confirmed the mother was ‘known to us but only for minor matters so it wouldn’t be appropriate (to comment) at this stage’.
Many of the family’s neighbours told Daily Mail they were too shocked by the violent nature of the alleged murders to fully process it yet.
They were shocked on Tuesday afternoon by the sound of police sirens in their usually quiet street, just 450m from the area’s famed Norman Lindsay Gallery.
Photos posted on social media show the family beaming with joy as they posed for pictures with Santa, enjoyed family holidays, and explored the wilderness around the Blue Mountains.
Just eight months ago, Google Streetview images captured the children’s Christmas decorations strung up across the front yard of the family’s home.
Ms Smith also previously referenced mental health online, while working during the state’s coronavirus lockdown, posting: ‘Mental health is not just for those diagnosed.’
Retired homicide detective Steve Ticehurst, who lives around the corner from the young family, said they had been well-liked members of the close-knit community.
‘They seemed like a really happy family, they have been living here for years, and you would just never pick something like this would happen,’ he told Daily Mail .
‘They would all come together to the local street Christmas party and appeared every bit the perfect family.
‘The mum used to be known for taking exercise walks around the area in the afternoons and we would always have a chat.
‘There was never any indication anything was wrong. I couldn’t say a bad word about them.’
Another neighbour, who did not want to be named, said the entire community was rocked by the incident.
‘You used to see her walking her dogs around the streets all the time, and out and about with her sons,’ the local resident said.
‘They were lovely young boys.
‘You’d never think something like that could happen here – it’s a quiet community.’
Residents said they had not seen Mr Smith around ‘in a while’ but that he had once joined the children and their mother at local events.
Neighbour Barbara Faith said she would regularly see the two brothers riding on their bikes back from school.
‘They had their helmets on, and they were doing the right thing … I just thought they were lovely kids,’ Ms Faith told the ABC.
She said there was a huge commotion shortly after midday with about 20 emergency vehicles rushing down her street.
‘It’s such a quiet neighbourhood and quiet street you don’t expect those sorts of things,’ she said.
‘It’s just so sad, I can’t believe this could happen anywhere let alone my street.’
For free mental health support call Lifeline : 13 11 14