What led Geoff Hunt to kill his entire family?

BY ALL accounts, Geoff Hunt was “easygoing” and “perfectly normal”. His awful crime came out of nowhere and shocked a community.

FOR a year, the devastated family and friends of Geoff Hunt have wondered what led him to commit one of the worst crimes imaginable.

Hunt, a 44-year-old farmer from Lockhart in NSW’s Riverina region, shot and killed his wife Kim Hunt, 41, and their three children, Fletcher, 10, Mia, 8 and Phoebe, 6, before turning the gun on himself last September.

In the aftermath of the shooting neighbours, friends, family and community members struggled to understand what could have motivated a man who was described as a “lovely guy” and “very easygoing”.

An inquest into the deaths is being held this week in Wagga Wagga.

One businessman who knew Hunt well said the tragedy came out of nowhere.

“There was absolutely no indication that anything was wrong or that anything like this was about to happen. He appeared to be in fine spirits. He’s a lovely guy, very easygoing and he seemed happy and perfectly normal,” the businessman told news.com.au at the time of the killings.

A suicide note — consisting of just two lines — was left at the house but its contents have not been revealed.

Hunt had been worried about his crops, which had been badly affected by frost, although he wasn’t the worst hit in the region.

Kim Hunt with daughters Mia and Phoebe.

Fletcher Hunt was killed alongside his family last September.

“Geoff was worried about the frost but he hadn’t lost anything.”

The family had been under considerable strain in the years before the tragedy. Mrs Hunt had been seriously injured in a car crash.

She broke her neck in the crash and was left with a permanent head injury. In the few months after the crash she couldn’t eat or walk — but by the time of the shooting she had made huge progress.

Many in the community were in no doubt that her recovery was boosted by the strength and support of her husband.

In an interview with the local paper after the crash, Hunt spoke of the “ups and downs” the family had endured since his wife was injured.

Mrs Hunt was found on the path at the rear of the home while the children were all found inside.

The husband and father was found on the property also, his body submerged in a muddy dam. It was recovered by police divers the day after the shootings. A gun was also found.

Police had scoured the farm for him and were alerted to the dam by an empty truck parked nearby.

Thick tyre tracks through a wheat paddock led them to the vehicle.

A carer made the shocking discovery of the bodies. She would later tell news.com.au how traumatising the scene was.

“I’m struggling, I’m really, struggling,” she said.

But it wasn’t just her. The terrible scene of an entire family wiped out, including young children, troubled even experienced police officers.

Detective Inspector Darren Cloake seemed to sum up the attitude of many in the shattered community when he said local police had an “investment and ownership” to the people they served.

“Many of the investigating officers knew the Hunt family, their children played sport with their children, went to school with them so it’s tough,” he said.

Mrs Hunt’s sister Jenny Geppert thanked the communities of Lockhart, Tumbarumba, Galore and Sandigo for supporting the family through a “traumatic year”, a family statement said.

“The love and care from our friends and extended family will also be forever remembered. This week will be difficult for our families, another arduous formality to endure,” The Daily Telegraphreported.

“We hope that this tragedy may remind all of what really matters in this world and to act with humility and empathy towards others at all times.”

If you or someone you know is affected by domestic violence, please call 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) or Lifeline on 13 11 14

Originally published as What led Geoff Hunt to kill his entire family?