Blue Mountains mother Trish Smith arrested after father discovers sons dead at their home

A father discovered his two sons dead at a home in the Blue Mountains west of Sydney, and the boys’ mother with cuts to her wrists after an apparent double murder-suicide attempt.

Two children have been found dead inside a home in the Blue Mountains and their mother has been arrested and remains under police guard in hospital.

A father discovered his two sons dead at a home in the Blue Mountains west of Sydney on Tuesday, and the boys’ mother with cuts to her wrists after an apparent double murder-suicide attempt.

Trish Smith remained under police guard in hospital on Tuesday night.

Russell and Ben Smith, aged 9 and 11, were found by their father Nick Smith at 12.40pm on Tuesday in the town of Faulconbridge. ABC reported the boys had been stabbed.

Mr Smith, who is separated from Ms Smith, 42, and does not live at the ­residence on Chapman ­Parade but has access to it, called triple-0 after finding his sons’ bodies and his former partner ­distressed and injured with cuts to her wrist.

Ms Smith, 42, was arrested at the scene and taken to Westmead Hospital by helicopter. Police said she had been treated for her wounds and was in a stable condition on Tuesday night. The family has no history of domestic violence and minimal prior contact with police, and the two boys had attended school on Monday with “no concerns”.

The event was reportedly being treated as a psychotic episode, but Superintendent John Nelson said it was too early to determine the cause of the “tragic scene”.

“All avenues at the moment, at this early stage, are open for investigation,” Superintendent Nelson said. “It is early stages and (we’re) not prepared to speculate on that (motive) at this stage. This is about as tragic as it gets for any police veteran and emergency services officer. (Community members) are genuinely shocked.”

Trish Smith and her sons Russell and Ben, left; the family including father Nick, right

Superintendent Nelson said Mr Smith had found the bodies and was helping police with their inquiries.

On Tuesday afternoon, parents and children from the school lined the road in cars after the street was blocked off by police.

NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb said: “I think the older and more experienced you get in this job, things like this still cut to the core. It’s a tragic situation.”

Police said there was no threat to the community and they were not looking for ­anyone else involved in the boys’ deaths.

Blue Mountains mayor Mark Greenhill said: “Our community has lost two precious souls in the most awful circumstances. Now is a time to come together and ­remember these two beautiful children.”

Neighbours said they were “shocked” by the boys’ deaths in what was “usually a very quiet street”.