A mother-of-five has been killed in what appears to be a murder-suicide in Victoria while four other people, including two of the woman’s teenage sons, were home.
Rebecca Young, 42, was found dead with knife wounds inside the property on the edge of Ballarat, west of Melbourne, about 9pm on Friday night alongside her partner Ian Butler, who has ties to the Bandidos bikie gang.
One neighbour told reporters outside the Sebastopol property Ms Young’s distraught parents had arrived late on Friday night and could be heard to say ‘I told you to leave him’.
Emergency crews are understood to have been called by others at the Morgan St property with Butler, 55, believed to have murdered Ms Young and then taken his own life.
Police have said they are not looking for anyone else in relation to the deaths.
Rebecca Young, 42, was found dead inside a house in the southern Ballarat suburb of Sebastopol on Friday
Bandido bikie Ian Butler was also found dead . He is suspected of killing his Ms Young and then himself
Local detectives are leading the investigation with assistance from the Victoria Police homicide squad.
‘The exact circumstances surrounding the incident is yet to be determined at this stage, however detectives are not looking for anyone else in connection with the matter,’ Victoria Police said.
They have not confirmed how the pair died.
Other neighbours who are looking after the two teenagers who were at the property described the pair’s relationship as ‘volatile’ to Nine News.
A forensic police officer examines the house on Friday night. It is understood the woman’s two teenage sons were at the property and they are being cared for by neighbours
The tragedy follows Ballarat already reeling from the unconnected disappearance of Samantha Murphy earlier this month.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers.
For confidential support call Lifeline on 13 11 14.