The “horrible” way in which three Manawatū children and their father died is “something very dark and terrible”, one of their neighbours says.
The Herald understands Saturday’s blaze in the town of Sanson and the deaths of Dean Field and his children Goldie, August and Hugo, were being investigated as a suspected murder-suicide.
Police would not say if the matter had been ruled a homicide when asked by reporters at a press conference this afternoon.
Manawatū Area Commander Inspector Ross Grantham said the man died at the scene but was not burned in the blaze.
One of the Fields’ neighbours, Alan Parker, told the Herald that 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,” Parker said in an interview before the police press conference.
“Clearly Chelsey [the children’s mother] is right in the middle of it, but her family, the grandparents, brothers, sisters, Dean’s family.
“Not only they’ve lost their son and their grandkids, they now have to face this horrible fact of potentially what has happened here, which, you know, we have to wait until a bit more detail comes out, but it’s pretty clear, I feel like to everybody what has happened which is something very dark and terrible.”
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”.
He said the incident has left a “horrible feeling”.
“You just feel sick to your stomach about what has happened down there.”
Two other neighbours, who did not want to be named, told the Herald the situation was horrific, especially hearing about the children.
“He obviously mentally flipped because I don’t believe any man could do that to their three darling little children.”
When the fire broke out, Parker could tell by the “sheer amount of smoke” that it was a ferocious fire.
“We basically stood there for a quarter of an hour just looking at it, just freaking out and just feeling terrible about really what was going on right in front of our eyes, which was somebody losing their livelihood, all their likely possessions.”
The other neighbours said they saw huge flames coming out of the side of the house.
Grantham would not say if the case was a homicide.
He told reporters that investigators are still working to determine the circumstances of the deaths.
“It’s unimaginable the horror and the heartache that this family are going through. It’s great for the community to support them. It’d be great if we can all support them, just give them some space to grow and get through it,” Grantham said.
“The next few days will be just like today. It’ll be hard grind for our frontline police officers, going to be hard grind for our people talking to those involved because it’s so emotional.”
He said police will remain at the property for as “long as it takes”.
Dean Field’s body and those of two of the children were removed from the scene on Sunday.
The body of the third child was removed on Monday, Grantham said.
The deaths have been referred to the coroner.
The children who lost their lives in the fire were named as Goldie, August and Hugo, aged 1, 5 and 7, through a Givealittle page set up by friends of the mother Chelsey. It has raised more than $193,000 to date.
The page’s creator wrote her friend was enduring a “devastating loss beyond measure”.
“Our dear friend has suffered the sudden, unbearable loss of her three beloved children, her angels.
“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 Givealittle page for the mother of the children details it was created to provide her with a “financial safety net”.
“Our goal is to provide her with the space and security needed to grieve in solitude, without the added stress of financial ruin,” the creator said.
“We cannot mend her broken heart, but we can wrap her in community support. Please join us in offering this gift of peace and practical help during her darkest time.”