‘Ignored’: Daughter of man who murdered his wife’s best friend and child breaks silence

The daughter of a man who brutally murdered his estranged wife’s best friend and daughter has lashed out with a brutal takedown of the police.

The daughter of a double murderer says she repeatedly warned police of the danger he posed before he gunned down a mother and her teenage daughter in a hunt for his estranged wife.

Jennifer Petelczyc and her 18-year-old daughter Gretl were brutally killed in their Floreat home, in Perth, by Mark James Bombara.

The 63-year-old had been looking for his wife, Ms Petelczyc’s best friend, who had been seeking refuge with her after leaving him, terrified for her safety.

Ariel, the killer’s daughter, revealed that she and her mother had fled their home in fear for their lives and had contacted police multiple times about the “imminent threat” posed by her father.

“My mother and I made it clear that our lives were at risk – we were repeatedly ignored, repeatedly failed. These failures have cost the lives of two incredible women,” Ms Bombara, 27, said in a statement.

“I did everything I could to protect my mother — when my father couldn’t find us he murdered her best friend and her best friend’s daughter.”

Bombara ended his own life as police arrived at the scene of the horrific attack.

Mark James Bombara had been searching his former partner, Rowena (pictured together)

Ariel says her numerous pleas for help to the police had fallen on deaf ears, explaining that she had specifically sent out a warning about an unaccounted-for Glock handgun, which ultimately became one of the murder weapons.

Her efforts to secure a temporary protective order were also dismissed, leaving her feeling helpless and desperate as she scrambled to ensure her mother’s safety.

In a separate statement, Ariel apologised to Liesl Petelczyc, the surviving member of the Petelczyc family.

“I’d like to start by saying how truly, deeply sorry I am to Liesl Petelczyc for the losses of her beautiful mother, Jenny, and sister, Gretl; losses she has suffered at the hands of my father’s violence,” she said.

‘I want answers’: Ariel Bombara’s full statement

“I’d like to start by saying how truly, deeply sorry I am to Liesl Petelczyc for the losses of her beautiful mother, Jenny, and sister, Gretl; losses she has suffered at the hands of my father’s violence. My mother and I fled our family home on March 28 in fear of our lives and to remove ourselves from an abusive situation.

Ariel Bombara, the daughter of the killer, revealed that she and her mother had fled their home in fear for their lives and had contacted police multiple times about the ‘imminent threat’ posed by her father.

“Between March 30th and April 2nd, I spoke with police on three separate occasions to raise the alarm about my father. On each occasion I alerted officers to my father’s guns, and told them my mother and I felt there was a real and imminent threat to our lives.

“I specifically mentioned that there was a Glock handgun which was unaccounted for.

“My understanding is this ultimately would be one of the weapons my father used take the lives of two innocent women.

“I also asked the police if we would be able to take out a 72 hour temporary protective order. We were told no, and that there was nothing police could do about the situation at that time.

“On April 2nd, my mother and I were given a police escort to our home to collect some belongings. This was the third occasion we warned police about my father’s guns.

“One officer said, ‘oh don’t worry, we know all about the guns’, and when he called for backup, he warned his fellow officers to wear bullet proof vests.

“We were ignored by five different male officers across three occasions of reporting. By that point we felt completely helpless and I had to focus on getting mum to safety.

“I did everything I could to protect my mother, and when my father couldn’t find us he murdered her best friend and her best friend’s daughter.

“The gun reforms being discussed currently are an important step, but it is my unwavering belief that even without his guns, my father would have committed a horrific act of violence which likely would have claimed lives.

“What my father did was an act of domestic violence. My mother and I made clear that lives were at risk, and we were repeatedly ignored. Repeatedly failed.

“Those failures have cost the lives of two incredible women. My father should always be considered accountable for his actions. They were his and his alone; however, there are authorities who should have helped us to stop him, and they failed.

“I want answers.”

Jennifer Petelczyc and her 18-year-old daughter Gretl were brutally slain in their Floreat home.

Mark James Bombara.

‘Men will kill regardless’: Fears gun law change won’t be enough

Police Minister Paul Papalia revealed that Bombara was legally licensed to own 13 firearms, including the two handguns he brought with him to the Floreat residence.

The aftermath of this tragedy has prompted calls for stricter gun laws, with Mr Papalia now considering amendments to legislation currently before parliament.

“I think we’ll be acting earlier to remove firearms from premises where there’s potential for harm to be done,” Mr Papalia stated.

While supportive of these legislative changes, Ariel emphasized that the problem of domestic violence extends beyond gun control.

“Men will kill regardless of what weapon they use. If they want to, they will find a way,” she told the ABC, adding that she believes that even without his firearms, her father would have committed a horrific act of violence.

Her comments came after Mr Papalia revealed Bombara’s estranged wife had approached police for help weeks before the double murder.

His ex-partner was seeking police assistance to remove her belongings from the Mosman Park mansion she shared with Bombara after a series of family and domestic violence incidents had occurred.

No formal report was ever made to police, he said, and Bombara had no prior convictions.

“Under the current laws, he was still deemed a fit and proper person,” he said.

“The current laws are inadequate.”

Mr Papalia further revealed Ms Petelczyc was not cable tied and there was no family or domestic violence restraining order in place.

WA Police also confirmed a restraining order was not in place at the time of the murders.

The state is about to introduce the toughest gun laws in Australia, but they could become even more strict after the chilling murders that took place last Friday.

Originally published as ‘Ignored’: Daughter of man who murdered his wife’s best friend and child breaks silence