In the quiet, leafy streets of Mosman Park, a suburb usually associated with tranquility and affluence, a profound sorrow has taken root. The community is reeling following the discovery of the Clune family—Jarrod, Maiwenna, and their two teenage sons, Leon and Otis—inside their home on Mott Close. What was initially viewed as an incomprehensible loss has now evolved into a devastating narrative of parental desperation, following the discovery of a significant piece of evidence that has reshaped the entire investigation.
While the initial focus was on the immediate aftermath of the tragedy, discovered early Friday morning by a distraught care worker, police have now confirmed the existence of a second, far more detailed document within the home. This discovery has provided investigators with a harrowing window into the mindset of two devoted parents who appear to have reached a heartbreaking conclusion after years of silent struggle.
The timeline of events began when a carer arrived for a scheduled appointment just after 8:00 am. They were met not by the family, but by a chilling note taped to the front door. Brief and protective, the message warned the reader not to enter and instructed them to contact the police immediately—a final act of consideration to spare a stranger from the trauma that lay within. However, it is the second note, found inside the property, that has shaken detectives and those close to the family.
Unlike the hastily written warning on the door, this second document is described as a structured “letter.” It was not a frantic scrawl, but a meticulous explanation. Sources indicate that the letter details a significant level of planning, suggesting that the tragedy was not a spur-of-the-moment decision but a course of action considered over time. The document reportedly contains precise instructions regarding the family’s finances and the settlement of their affairs, indicating that Jarrod and Maiwenna wanted to ensure everything was left in order. It paints a picture of two parents who made a joint, albeit tragic, decision to end their lives, believing they had no other viable path forward.
The context behind this desperate measure is becoming increasingly clear through the voices of grieving friends and neighbors. The couple was raising two boys with severe autism, one of whom faced significant neurodevelopmental challenges. While the family had accessed care providers in the past, the primary burden of 24-hour care fell squarely on the shoulders of the parents. Friends have described them as “exhausted” and “overwhelmed,” fighting a daily battle against a system that many claim failed to provide adequate support. The sheer physical and emotional toll of caring for high-needs children, coupled with a perceived lack of government assistance, appears to have pushed a loving family beyond their breaking point.
Detective Sergeant Jessica Securo confirmed that there were no signs of a violent struggle within the home, and police are not looking for anyone else in connection with the deaths. The tragedy has sparked an urgent conversation about the isolation of unpaid carers. Joan McKenna Kerr, Chief Executive of the Autism Association of WA, expressed deep sorrow, noting that this news brings a “deep sense of grief” to many families facing similar challenges.
As the investigation continues to piece together the family’s final movements, the people of Perth are left to mourn not just the loss of four lives, but the loss of hope that preceded it. It serves as a stark reminder that behind closed doors, even in the most quiet of neighborhoods, families can be drowning in plain sight.