Residents of Mosman Park say they are still haunted by the memory of a “mysterious person” who was regularly seen entering and leaving the family home on Mott Close in the weeks leading up to the tragedy that left four family members dead. As investigators continue to piece together the final days before the incident, the repeated sightings—once brushed off as harmless—have now become a focal point of public curiosity and part of a much broader police timeline.

The tragedy, which unfolded inside the quiet suburban home earlier this month, shocked the community and raised difficult, unsettling questions about isolation, hidden struggles, and signs that may have been missed. Police have remained cautious in their statements, emphasizing that they have not identified any third-party involvement. But they confirm that they are reviewing all information provided by residents, including reports of the unknown visitor.

To the neighbors who came forward, one detail stands out:
“Something was off.”

It was not the kind of observation that people feel strongly enough about in the moment to report. Instead, it was a nagging sense in the background—a glance at a stranger’s silhouette, an unfamiliar vehicle, a face that didn’t match the daily patterns of the small street. Only in hindsight, after the tragedy, did these observations feel significant.

“We saw someone who didn’t look like family,” one resident said. “They came at odd hours. They didn’t greet anyone. They were careful not to draw attention. At the time, we didn’t think it was our business. Now? We wish we’d paid more attention.”

A QUIET STREET, A SUDDEN LOSS

Mott Close is the kind of cul-de-sac where neighbors know each other by name and families gather in front yards during the summer months. The family at the center of the tragedy kept mostly to themselves, described by residents as polite but private. Their two teenage boys were known to have health challenges, a fact that investigators publicly acknowledged in the early days of the inquiry.

The street had noticed increasing ambulance visits in past years, and neighbors believed the family was under considerable emotional and caregiving strain. Still, no one expected an outcome as devastating as what unfolded inside the home.

Police discovered four bodies—two parents and their children—after a welfare check. There were no indications of forced entry, no signs of violent struggle, and no weapons found. Investigators described the scene as “quiet” and “orderly,” adding to the emotional weight of a tragedy that appeared to have taken place behind closed doors.

In the wake of the deaths, neighbors began revisiting the moments and details they had dismissed at the time. Several described seeing an unfamiliar person arriving at the home “multiple times,” sometimes staying briefly, sometimes longer. The person was not recognized as part of the household.

THE MYSTERIOUS VISITOR: FACT OR FLAWED MEMORY?

Police have not confirmed the existence of the “mysterious person” and caution that memory in times of shock can be unreliable. Still, investigators have contacted residents who mentioned the sightings to gather more information.

Some remember the visitor wearing a hood or cap pulled low. Others recall a plain car parked slightly out of view from the street. A few noted that the visits became more frequent toward the end of the year. None could describe the individual in detail.

“It could have been a friend, a support worker, a delivery contractor, anyone,” one neighbor acknowledged. “But the truth is, something didn’t feel right.”

Authorities have not suggested that the visitor is connected to the tragedy. Instead, they’re treating the information as part of a broader effort to reconstruct the family’s final weeks—who visited them, what support they received, and whether anyone outside the home observed signs of distress.

Investigators have emphasized that the public should avoid jumping to conclusions. “We are reviewing all community reports,” a spokesperson said. “But at this stage, nothing indicates third-party involvement.”

AN INVESTIGATION SHAPED BY COMPLEXITY

Police say cases involving families experiencing significant health or caregiving challenges are often complex, requiring sensitive handling and collaboration with medical and social-service professionals. Investigators are now examining documents, digital records, medical histories, and any correspondence that might help piece together the emotional state of the parents before the tragedy.

Authorities have confirmed:

There is no evidence of a break-in.

The home showed no signs of violence.

Early forensic results suggest the deaths occurred within a short timeframe.

Letters found in the home indicate the parents may have been overwhelmed.

These findings have only intensified questions about what supports the family had—or didn’t have.

Relatives previously described them as “isolated,” a word that resonates heavily now as investigators search for clues about the family’s internal struggles.

NEIGHBORS GRAPPLE WITH REGRET

For neighbors, the tragedy has left behind not only grief, but also a sense of collective introspection.

Some say they wish they had checked in more. Others wonder whether the mysterious visitor was a sign that should have prompted questions—or simply an unrelated detail magnified by grief.

“When something this tragic happens, your brain goes back over every moment you ignored,” a nearby resident said. “You start asking yourself: Did we miss something? Could we have helped?”

Mental-health experts urge compassion when addressing such thoughts, emphasizing that hindsight is always sharper than real-time awareness. Communities, they say, often underestimate the private struggles people around them face.

POLICE SEEK ANSWERS WITHOUT SPECULATION

Investigators are still interviewing neighbors, extended family, and anyone who may have visited the home. Police remain firm that no assumptions should be made about the unknown visitor until evidence confirms their identity or relevance.

They are also reviewing:

CCTV from surrounding homes

Local traffic-camera data

Phone records

Statements from social-service providers

Delivery logs and support-worker schedules

Authorities say even if the visitor turns out to be unrelated, understanding their presence may help clarify the family’s state of mind, routines, or support network.

“What neighbors observed may turn out to be nothing,” one investigator noted. “Or it may fill in gaps in the timeline. Every detail matters until it doesn’t.”

A COMMUNITY TRYING TO HEAL

Since news of the tragedy broke, residents have created memorials along Mott Close—flowers placed carefully on fences, soft toys left at the front gate, and handwritten notes expressing sympathy and regret.

Local organizations have begun offering counseling sessions. The school attended by the boys has held vigils. Parents across the suburb are holding their children a little tighter, and families are checking in on one another more frequently.

The tragedy has sparked broader conversations across Western Australia about the pressure caregivers face, the strain of managing chronic health conditions, and the importance of community connectedness.

THE QUESTIONS THAT REMAIN

As the investigation continues, the presence of the mysterious visitor remains one of several unanswered questions—but an emotionally charged one for neighbors who can’t shake the feeling that “something was off.”

Was the person a friend offering help?
A service worker?
Someone delivering supplies?
Or simply a coincidence amplified by hindsight and grief?

Police say it is too early to draw conclusions.

But for the community, the hope is that answers—whatever they may be—will bring understanding, not blame, and provide a way for families to process a tragedy that has left an entire neighbourhood shaken.

For now, investigators continue their work, neighbors carry their memories, and a quiet street in Mosman Park is left to mourn, reflect, and search for healing.