Police investigation underway after two found dead in Cairns home

Heartbreaking details have been revealed about how authorities were alerted to the grim scene.

The young child of the man and woman found dead with gunshots wounds last night in Far North Queensland alerted neighbours and family to the unfolding chaos, the police have revealed, as investigators piece together the horrifying facts behind the sudden deaths.

Emergency services rushed to a property on Verbena Dr in Cairns about 7.15pm on Tuesday evening to conduct a welfare check, where they found the bodies of a man and woman, both aged 41, in the bathroom and main bedroom of the house.

Detective Acting Inspector Alina Bell, speaking on Wednesday, said the pair were married and died from gunshots wounds.

“The child has been alerted to the incident occurring and subsequently has reached out to family members and neighbours,” she said.

“As such, that triple-0 call occurred as a result of another family member calling us.

Cairns Police Detective Acting Inspector Alina Bell updated the media on the Mount Sheridan sudden deaths on Wednesday. Picture: Supplied

“We provided an immediate response … unfortunately upon arrival both male and female were located deceased.”

“Both male and female have wounds consistent with the result of a firearm.”

The exact circumstances of the deaths remain unclear, she said, though investigators will conduct a forensic examination to determine what occurred.

Investigators will also sort through bank records and talk to work colleagues, family and friends to try and stitch together an understanding of what had happened.

“We will do all we can to get some answers for those family members,” Inspector Bell said.

The pair were not known to police and there was no indication of domestic violence in the relationship.

The man was a registered firearms holder, she said, and more than one firearm was present in the house.

The child, aged 9, did not witness the violence.

The violence struck a home on Verbena Drive Cairns in Far North Queensland. Picture: Supplied

“We do not believe she was present or witnessed any of the incident that occurred,” Inspector Bell, who spoke in a solemn voice through the press conference, said.

“However that still doesn’t take away how traumatising that will be for that child and the family members and friends moving forward.”

The child is now being cared for by other family members.

There is no ongoing threat to the public, Inspector Bell said, and the investigation was not being treated as suspicious.

“I have not previously been exposed to anything like this before,” she said.

“I urge anyone in the community who is suffering and needs help to reach out to lifeline.”

The police have urged anyone with information or relevant footage in the area to come forward.

Originally published as Police investigation underway after two found dead in Cairns home