The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Police’s homicide detectives, at the direction of the coroner, are continuing to investigate the death of an Indian-origin woman and her two children.
The bodies of three were located deceased in Yerrabi Pond in Gungahlin on Saturday and Sunday 5-6 November 2022.
In a statement ACT Police said:
“The case, at this early stage, is being treated as a murder-suicide with only the three deceased involved. However, because the investigation is complex and has not been completed, the circumstances surrounding the deaths have not been the subject of a detailed report to the coroner.”
ACT Police officials talked to the father of the boys and do not believe he had any involvement.
Further, the police said that as the investigation is not complete it is not appropriate to release any information and they have no further comment regarding this incident at this time.
The statement added:
“It is the responsibility of the coroner to make findings as to the manner and cause of death. Those findings will be produced publicly when the coronial investigation (and if necessary, a hearing) has been completed.”
Eight-year-old, Pranav Vivekanandan, was reported missing on Saturday after the bodies of a woman and another young boy – believed to be Pranav’s mother and brother (who have not been identified) – were found in the Yerrabi Pond.
The school in the city’s north that the two young boys attended offered counselling to fellow students and people paid floral tributes where the bodies were discovered.
Harrison School executive principal Andy Mison sent a letter to parents on Sunday. He wrote:
“It is with great sadness that I inform you two of our students and a parent died unexpectedly in a tragic incident this weekend. Our thoughts are with their family and friends.”
At the height of the search, more than 30 police and more than 50 ACT State Emergency Service personnel were deployed from ACT SES, AFP Maritime and AFP Search and Rescue.
