Mystery remains over the circumstances that led to the fatal Manawatū blaze that claimed the lives of a young family.
The Herald understands the deaths are being treated as a suspected murder-suicide.
Police confirmed a family home in Sanson was engulfed in flames at 2.30pm on Saturday, claiming the lives of “innocent young children”.
Three children, along with their father, died in the incident.
The children have been named on a Givealittle post set up for their surviving mother as Goldie, August and Hugo, aged 1, 5 and 7.
The Herald understands their father is local businessman Dean Field.
The cause of the fire remains unknown and police have declined to comment further at this stage.
Manawatū Area Commander Inspector Ross Grantham said the house was severely damaged, and police were not seeking anyone else in relation to the incident.
“We need to do the right thing by these kids, and it’s important we follow proper process.
“We have to do it right, and that will take time.
“At this early stage, we are still working to determine why this incident unfolded and why three innocent young children lost their lives.”
Grantham provided an update on the investigation on Monday, saying they had now recovered the final body from the destroyed house.
He also revealed the body of the adult male recovered was not burned, but he did die at the scene.
Grantham would not comment on how the man died.
“We know the community have a lot a questions about this case, as do we, but at this stage we are still working to determine the intent and circumstances around this incident,” Grantham said.
Grantham would not comment on whether a homicide investigation would be launched or if a firearm was involved in the incident.
“We haven’t decided if it is a homicide yet. We’re working through the scene and the witness information that we can obtain,” he told media yesterday.
Grantham said he understood a witness who was driving past saw the fire, had gone to the address, and alerted emergency services.
Post-mortem examinations are expected to be carried out this week, and police are speaking to several people as part of the investigation.
A Givealittle page titled “A mother’s worst nightmare” has been set up for the mum of the three children, aiming to raise a financial “safety net” for her to grieve.
The Givealittle page’s creator wrote that her friend was enduring a “devastating loss beyond measure”.
“They were the light and love of her life and her entire world has been shattered.
“In the midst of this unimaginable grief, she also lost her home and everything she owned. She is facing the hardest journey possible, stripped of her physical security while navigating the deepest emotional pain,” the page said.
Floral tributes have been attached to the fence at the top of the home’s driveway.
Grantham described the tragedy as an unimaginable horror.
He said police would be putting support systems in place for the officers and first responders who had to deal with the “confronting scene”.
Several locals who knew the family told the Herald they were struggling to come to terms with the tragedy. One called it “catastrophic”, another “very upsetting”.
The Fields’ neighbour, Alan Parker, told the Herald the incident was horrible for all involved.
“Our thoughts are going out, of course, to the people that have to deal with this going forward, which is both families,” he said in an interview before the police press conference yesterday.
Parker said on the night of the fire, he could not get to sleep, and when more details came out the next day, including the children’s bodies being found, it “got worse and more horrific”.
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