‘Complex’: New detail in Canberra pond drownings

A major update into the drowning deaths of a mother and her two sons pulled from the water last weekend has been confirmed.

The drowning deaths of a mother and her two children in a Canberra pond will be investigated as a murder-suicide, it has been confirmed.

ACT Police confirmed the update on Friday after the bodies of eight-year-old Pranav Vivekanandan and his mother and brother were pulled from the water last weekend.

“The case, at this early stage, is being treated as a murder-suicide with only the three deceased involved,” a statement read.

Police divers carried a blue bag from the water on day two of searching for a missing boy at Yerrabi Pond in Gungahlin in Canberra. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

ACT Police raced to find 8-year- old Pranav Vivekanandan after the body of his mother and brother was found in Yerrabi Pond, but his body was sadly found in the water a day later.

“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.”

The names and ages of the woman and her other son have not been revealed.

Police said the findings from the coroner will determine what next steps are taken.

“As the investigation is not complete it is not appropriate to release any further information at this time. It is the responsibility of the coroner to make findings as to the manner and cause of death,” the statement read.

“Those findings will be produced publicly when the coronial investigation (and if necessary, a hearing) has been completed.”

Pranav was identified as one of three people found dead in Yerrabi Pond in Gungahlin earlier this week.

Two bodies, a deceased woman and a boy were on Saturday located and removed from the water. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

The bodies of Pranav’s mother and brother were found on Saturday morning, launching a massive search for Pranav, which ended when his body was also found in the pond at about 10.45am on Sunday.

Officers found the bodies of the woman and other boy on Saturday after a witness spotted them in the water.

ACT police and officials have talked to the father of the boys and do not believe he had any involvement.

More than 30 police officers and more than 50 ACT State Emergency Service personnel were involved in the search over the weekend.