BALI – The investigation into the tragic death of an Australian father and his two children in Legian, Kuta, Badung, has entered a new phase. Denpasar Police have issued a Letter of Termination of Investigation, known as an SP3, after the main suspect, the father, was found dead in an apparent suicide.
Denpasar Police Chief Commissioner Leonardo D. Simatupang, accompanied by Bali Police Public Relations Chief Commissioner Ariasandy, provided an update on the case during a press briefing in Denpasar on Tuesday, September 15, 2026.
The incident, which occurred on Sunday, September 13, 2026, claimed the lives of SDJ, 57, an Australian national, and his two children, ADS, 7, and LKS, 4. The father was found hanging by a rope, while the two children were discovered lying on top of each other inside a bungalow in the Legian area.
CCTV Footage Suggests Father Killed His Two Children Before Suicide Based on an analysis of CCTV footage and witness statements, police suspect that SDJ killed his two children before taking his own life.
The CCTV recordings reportedly captured the sound of a young boy screaming from inside the room. Police also found that the daughter briefly ran out of the room in an apparent attempt to escape. However, SDJ allegedly chased her, caught her, and brought her back inside. Afterward, the suspect reportedly took a blue rope from a storage area and used it to hang himself.
“Before carrying out the hanging, the suspect changed the direction of the CCTV camera to point downward,” Leonardo explained during the press briefing.
Medical personnel and police identification officers examined the bodies of the three victims. According to the Denpasar Police chief, an external examination by a doctor revealed indications of physical violence, particularly around the necks of the two children.
“An external examination by the doctor confirmed injuries consistent with physical violence, especially in the neck area of both children,” Leonardo said.
Police also stated that the examination of SDJ’s body revealed biological findings that were considered consistent with a hanging victim. The police chief said the CCTV evidence, external physical examination, and information concerning the suspect’s medical history were sufficient to establish the preliminary circumstances surrounding the tragedy.
According to information provided by the victim’s wife, the couple’s marital relationship had begun to deteriorate in 2022 due to frequent disputes. SDJ was also reportedly suffering from a severe anxiety disorder. However, he had never received formal medical treatment for the condition.
At the time of the incident, his wife was in Jakarta, where she had been visiting her parents since September 10, 2026.
Police further revealed that SDJ had allegedly made several previous suicide attempts. In one incident last month, he reportedly tried to end his life using a cable, but his wife managed to stop him.
Denpasar Police confirmed that the investigation had been terminated through the issuance of an SP3 because the alleged perpetrator had died.
“We are processing the Letter of Termination of Investigation (SP3) because the suspect has died,” Leonardo said.
The Kuta Police and the Australian Consulate have coordinated the process of handing over the three bodies to the victims’ wife and family. Police also confirmed that the wife had submitted a formal request declining a full autopsy. Authorities said the available CCTV recordings, external physical findings, and the suspect’s medical history had helped clarify the circumstances of the case.
The tragic incident remains a suspected murder-suicide involving an Australian father and his two children in Bali.
