In the quiet, tree-lined streets of Mosman Park, a suburb synonymous with affluence and tranquility, a silence has fallen that is heavier than any the community has known before. The sudden and devastating loss of the Clune family—Jarrod, Maiwenna, and their two teenage sons, Leon and Otis—has left a neighborhood in shock and a nation asking difficult questions. Now, emerging details regarding a heartbreaking letter found within the home suggest that this was not merely an inexplicable act of despair, but a tragedy foreshadowed by years of silent struggle against a system that allegedly turned its back on them.
The harrowing discovery was made on a Friday morning, not by police, but by a carer arriving for a scheduled visit. A chilling note pinned to the front door offered a final act of protection, warning the visitor not to enter and instructing them to contact emergency services immediately. Inside, authorities found a scene of profound sorrow: the parents, their two sons—both of whom lived with severe autism and high support needs—and the family pets, all deceased.
While homicide detectives continue their work, the focus of the investigation has shifted to a second, far more detailed document located inside the property. This letter, described by sources as significant, is believed to offer a window into the parents’ mindset in their final days. Early reports suggest the document indicates a degree of planning, outlining the management of the family’s affairs and, most heartbreakingly, hinting at a sense of insurmountable hopelessness. It paints a picture not of malice, but of two devoted caregivers who felt they had reached the absolute limit of their endurance.
Jarrod Clune and Maiwenna Goasdoue. Credit: Supplied
Friends and associates of the couple have stepped forward to challenge the narrative of a senseless crime, offering instead a portrait of fierce love and systemic abandonment. Maiwenna and Jarrod were described as dedicated advocates who “moved stones” to ensure their boys had the best quality of life. However, those close to the family allege that their pleas for assistance were repeatedly met with bureaucratic silence.
“They were the most devoted, involved parents who always championed their beautiful boys,” one anonymous family friend shared. “But whenever they sought much-needed help… they were consistently rejected by the very people and organizations whose job it is to support families like this.”
Reports have surfaced indicating that the family may have recently faced cuts to their NDIS (National Disability Insurance Scheme) funding, a blow that perhaps severed their last lifeline. The tragedy has ignited a fierce conversation about the isolation faced by unpaid carers and the often-invisible burden carried by families with high-needs children.
As forensic officers continue their grim task behind the police tape on Mott Close, the community has rallied in grief. Across the state, candles were lit in a virtual vigil, a symbolic gesture to honor Leon and Otis not as burdens, but as precious lives. Premier Roger Cook described the event as an “unimaginable tragedy that will ripple throughout the state,” urging those struggling to seek support.
This heartbreaking case serves as a stark reminder that even in the most picturesque neighborhoods, families can be drowning in plain sight. It forces a confrontation with uncomfortable truths about how society supports its most vulnerable, leaving a community to wonder if a little more help, a little sooner, might have written a different ending to this sorrowful tale.