Autism community urges people to seek help after suspected murder suicide of family-of-four

THE autism community is urging families who are feeling the strain of daily life with a disabled child to seek help.

Maria Claudia Lutz Pena with her children Martin and Elisa. Source: Facebook

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PARENTS with autistic children have told of their concern for other vulnerable families following the suspected murder-suicide of a family-of-four in Davidson.

One mum whose son has been diagnosed as high-functioning on the autistic spectrum, said the deaths had started discussions within the grieving northern beaches autism community about who else might be struggling.

“We are looking around at other families we know who may be vulnerable,” said the 48-year-old from Beacon Hill, who did not want to be named.

“We want them to know they matter and we need them in our lives.

“These terrible deaths have given people an opportunity to talk about any of their dark thoughts.”

Steve Drakoulis, head of Autism Community Network, said there had been a lot discussion and a lot of grieving following the deaths by suspected gassing of mum Maria Claudia Lutz, husband Fernando Manrique and their severely disabled non-verbal children Elisa, 11, and Martin, 10, at their Sir Thomas Mitchell Drive home on Monday.

He said while the family had not been part of the ACN community, many members knew them.

Dad Fernando Manrique and daughter Elisa. Source: Facebook

“A lot of the talk has been about how desperate they must have felt and how they must have thought there was no help,” he said.

Carolyn McKay, from the Northern Beaches Interchange, said they offered respite, recreation and carer support for families with disabled children and urged those struggling to reach out.

“We are always coming across families who are not aware of support available to them,” she said.

Around 50 northern beaches families are signed up to the Brookvale-based ACN and it was a lifeline for many.

Maria Claudia Lutz, husband Fernando Manrique and Elisa and Martin were found dead in their Davidson on Monday.

“We do talk about a lot of horrible things, but there is also a lot of humour too,” said the Beacon Hill mother.

She said typical issues parents of autistic children struggle with are schooling, toileting and sleeping.

Her family was not immune. She rarely gets more than four hours sleep a night as her son, who is 10, wakes every 45 minutes to check she is still there.

“He does have trouble shutting down and going to sleep and during the night he will wake every 45 minutes to check I’m in the room,” she said.

Olivia Zamora lays flowers at the house.

She said she was lucky to get four hours respite care a week, plus two hours a month when she goes to the ACN meeting in Brookvale.

“It all sounds so bad and so exhausting but there are many amazing things about him as well,” she said.

“His imagination is off the scale. He creates a world around him and he draws you into it as well.

“He can tell you an incredible story, but he can’t write it down.”

She said he was a perfectionist and regularly had moments of despair because he can’t live up to his own high expectations.

“When people ask me why I don’t have any other children I say I did it perfectly the first time why would I need to do it again,” said the proud mum.

Monthly meetings are held at Manly Leagues Club, as well as family social catch-ups. For details go to: autismcommunity.org.au and nbi.org.au.

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St Lucy's School Wahroonga pupil Martin Manrique making some of his incredible art. Source: Supplied

‘HE WAS A PROLIFIC PAINTER AND A VERY GIFTED ARTIST’

WHAT he could not express in words, 10-year- old Martin Manrique somehow managed to convey in art.

In spite, or perhaps because, of the disability that robbed him of speech the youngest victim of Monday’s tragic suspected murder suicide was a gifted painter.

The artworks show a precocious talent with a command of subject, colour and composition unusual in one so young.

And they serve as a poignant reminder of the devastating loss experienced by local community and the His teachers at St Lucy’s School Wahroonga now plans to exhibit the paintings in memory of Martin and his 11-year-old sister Elise.

Some of Martin Manrique’s art.

Deputy principal Susan Jones said Martin’s personality shone through in his extraordinary talent.

“Martin loved nothing more than a cuddle,” Ms Jones said.

“His passion for animals shone through each and every day.

“He was a prolific painter and a very gifted artist — that was how he communicated, through his art. Martin was a cheeky and funny little boy,” she said.

The siblings were found dead at their Davidson home on Monday along with their mother Maria Claudia Lutz and father Fernando Manrique. in a tragedy police are investigating as a murder-suicide following the discovery of gas bottles in the house.

The school contacted police after Ms Lutz did not show up for canteen duty.

Artwork by Martin and his sister Elisa Lutz shown at a memorial at their school St Lucy's. The children's parents Maria and Fernando were also killed by gas at their Davidson Home

Ms Jones said they were devastated to lose the two children with intellectual disabilities.

“We lost two loved children and an amazing mother — the hole they have left in the heart of the community is immense,” Ms Jones said.

“We are focusing on what they brought to us, their fun loving nature, Maria’s dedication to knowing every member of our community by name, Ellie’s smile and Martin’s amazing talent with a paint brush.”

Ms Jones said staff had also remembered the “special moments” they had with 11-year-old Elisa.

“Elisa would hold your hand in the sweetest way, she was known for this,” Ms Jones said.

“She would look into your eyes and smile and lead staff around the oval.

More of Martin Manrique’s art.

The youngster loved art.

“She loved all forms of art, she danced, sang and painted each and every day.

“Elisa would create art whenever she could, like her brother, this is how she communicated.

“She was unique.”

Ms Jones said commemorations would continue for “day, months and years to come”.

“Our families endure the hardships of raising a child with a disability, but the fact that they have come together today to support their family is a testament to each and everyone of them,” she said.

“We won’t just commemorate in one way, we will always remember them.”