Grandma’s scream of horror brought neighbours running to home
A SCREAM of horror from a mother-in-law who found the bodies of her daughter-in-law and grandson at their house brought neighbours rushing to the usually-quiet property. However despite their calls to paramedics, it was too late for the pair to be saved.
NSW
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A SCREAM of horror from a mother-in-law who found the bodies of her daughter-in-law and grandson at their house brought neighbours rushing to the usually-quiet property. However despite their calls to paramedics, it was too late for the pair to be saved.
Well-known local sporting community member Erica Bond, 47, and her nine-year-old son Lachlan Bond, were found in the Wyongah home, near Wyong, just before 2pm yesterday.
A neighbour said Ms Bond’s mother-in-law screamed when she found the bodies.
Residents rushed in to help and called paramedics, but the mother and son were unable to be revived.
Police are now investigating the deaths of the pair as a possible murder-suicide.
It’s believed Ms Bond was found outside and Lachlan was found in his bedroom.
Retiree Henry Sun-Woo, who lives at Kooindah Waters Golf Club where Ms Bond worked, said he saw Ms Bond on Sunday morning.
Ms Bond gave Mr Sun-Woo a card to play golf and seemed “perfect”.
“Knowing Erica, she is not the type of person who would do such a thing,” Mr Sun-Woo said this morning.
“It’s not possible. She loves him so much. I never saw her do anything bad towards her own son. She’s always taking care of him.”
Mr Sun-Woo said little Lachlan was a talented golfer who regularly played with his father Andrew.
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“I saw him once on the eight hole, he was hitting the ball across the water to the green — that’s about 150 yards,” he said.
“They were trying to bring him up as a golfer. When she worked, Andrew and the little kid go play golf … he had every potential there was.”
Mr Sun-Woo said he was shocked to learn of their deaths.
“I didn’t feel anything different, she was just fine. I am absolutely shocked at this. How could that happen? That cannot be. I’m shocked. I see them as a happy family, because when Erica worked, Andrew came here to play golf.”
But in one of her last Facebook posts, Ms Bond shared a video about suicide prevention.
Another message shared on July 10 read: “Depression is REAL. People can smile all day and still be broken inside.”
On the same day, another post said “the hardest part of being a parent is watching a child go through something really tough and not being able to fix it for them”.
Days later, she shared video urging men to speak up about mental anguish.
“If you feel down, speak up. Because silence can kill you,” it said.
Lachlan was a pupil at Tuggerawong Public School and its principal Grant McFarland wrote a message in response to the deaths on social media overnight, Central Coast Gosford Express Advocate confirmed.
“By now many of you would have heard that one of our students and parent has passed away,” he wrote on the school’s Facebook page.
“I wanted to confirm that the school will be open tomorrow (today) and that we are ensuring that significant additional support is available for any student who may need it tomorrow and over the coming days.
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“It is your personal decision about what sensitive discussions you may choose to have with your children tonight. The school will have a carefully planned approach to supporting all students tomorrow and moving forward.
“The staff and I appreciate the tremendous support of our parents and our broader school community at this challenging time. Our heartfelt thoughts are with our much valued student’s family and friends at this time.”
Mother Ellen Smith, whose son Karl was a close friend with Lachlan at school, said staff called her this morning to say classes would be cancelled.
“How do I explain to my boy his best mate has passed away? How do you explain that to a 13-year-old? … I only found out this morning. He went to the same school as him and now he’s passed away.”
Ms Smith said she was shocked to find out circumstances surrounding the two deaths after seeing Ms Bond taking her dogs to the beach two weeks ago.
“It’s tragic. She was well known in the community too. She was a really good mum,” she said.
“Lachlan was sweet and talkative, like there was nothing wrong.”
Other Tuggerawong Public School pupils have been distraught at the news.
“My daughter is heartbroken. Lots of love and support to our beautiful teachers,” Lindal Penman said.
Regulars at a local golf club where Ms Bond worked were devastated today.
“RIP Erica Bond!! Had the pleasure of knowing you from the golf course and your little boy!! Sooo sad!” Nick Babcock wrote.
Jessica Barrance said: “I can’t stop the tears streaming down my son’s face, it’s going to hit him hard being in his classroom.”
Police and ambulance crews were called to the home on Kilpa Rd to discover the pair deceased.
Police confirmed “no other parties are being sought in relation to this incident”.
Forensic analysts examined the crime scene which was established in the top floor of the two-storey house.
A neighbour said the family kept to themselves.
“We only got here in March but they’ve always been pretty quiet,” a neighbour said.
“I’ve heard them have a few fights occasionally but nothing serious, I didn’t think.”
The man said he and his wife were at home at the time of the incident, but didn’t see or hear anything until they saw police putting crime scene tape around the premises.
“You never expect something like this on a quiet street like this, but when I saw the tape I knew something bad had happened,” he said.
“You don’t want to hear about something like this happening — especially if there’s children involved,” his wife added.
Ms Bond’s friend Lisa Nicholson told Seven News Ms Bond could have reached out for help.
“She had so many friends that she could have reached out to. To take her life and her son’s life as well is very, very sad,” Ms Nicholson said.
A profile of Ms Bond on the website of Kooindah Waters Golf Club described her “outgoing personality”.
“An extremely good golfer, her handicap fluctuates between 4-7 and she is the current ladies club champion,” it said.
Erica and Andrew Bond are understood to have bought the house in 2001 a number of years before the arrival of their son.
Tuggerah Lakes detectives and forensics crews are searching the property.
Officers dressed in white plastic overalls were seen looking for any clues that could explain the deaths.
Investigations are continuing and a report will be prepared for the Coroner.
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