Australian Man and Two Young Children Found Dead in Kuta Rental Property, Police Investigate Possible Murder-Suicide

An Australian man from Perth, Damien John Shaw (56), and his two young children—a six-year-old boy and a four-year-old girl born to an Indonesian mother—were found dead inside a rented bungalow in Kuta, Bali, at around 10:14am local time on Sunday, after neighbors raised concerns for the family's welfare.

According to police, Shaw's wife, who had traveled to Jakarta four days earlier, asked a neighbor to check on the family after hearing one of the children crying during a phone call, reportedly hearing her daughter say "Stop, Daddy." When further calls went unanswered, the local community head and several neighbors went to the property and forced their way inside after repeated knocking received no response.

Inside, they discovered the bodies of the man and the two children. Police are continuing their investigation, and an autopsy is underway. Shaw was reportedly an out-of-work merchant seaman, according to his LinkedIn profile. The family had signed a lease on the bungalow in 2022, with plans to stay until at least 2029.

Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said consular assistance is being provided to the family of the three Australians who died. Western Australian Premier Roger Cook offered condolences, noting that while the situation has been characterized as a possible murder-suicide, this has not been officially confirmed.