Investigators relied on security footage, witness statements and medical examinations after the family was found dead inside a Kuta bungalow.
DENPASAR, Indonesia — Bali police have concluded that an Australian father killed his two young children before dying by suicide at their family bungalow in Kuta, after investigators reviewed security-camera footage, witness statements and medical findings from the scene.
Damien John Shaw and his children were found dead Sept. 13 after Shaw’s wife, who was in Jakarta, became concerned when she could no longer reach the family and asked people near their home to check on them. Neighbors and local community members eventually forced their way into the bungalow after receiving no response. Indonesian authorities initially investigated the deaths as a suspected double homicide followed by suicide and later said the evidence pointed to Shaw as the person responsible for the children’s deaths.
The case drew attention in Australia and Indonesia as authorities worked to establish what happened inside the family’s rented bungalow in the Kuta area of Bali. Australian news organizations have identified Shaw as a 56-year-old man from Western Australia and reported that the children were his 6-year-old son and 4-year-old daughter. Indonesian police records have reported different ages for some family members. Authorities have not publicly explained those discrepancies.
According to Bali police, Shaw’s wife had traveled to Jakarta several days before the deaths. She became alarmed after communication with the family was interrupted and she could not reach her husband again. Police said she contacted people in Bali and asked them to check the bungalow. A neighbor and others went to the property, received no response and ultimately entered the home, where the three family members were found dead.
Police then processed the bungalow, interviewed witnesses and examined security-camera recordings from the property. Denpasar Police Chief Senior Commissioner Leonardo David Simatupang said investigators concluded from the footage and witness testimony that Shaw killed the children before taking his own life. Police said they found no indication in the video evidence that another person was responsible.
The security system did not provide a complete visual record of what happened. Police said a camera’s position had been altered during the incident, limiting what investigators could see. However, recordings captured sounds and movements that investigators said helped them reconstruct the sequence of events. Authorities also said the footage showed Shaw retrieving an item from a storage area before his death. Police have not released the complete recordings publicly.
External medical examinations of the children found signs consistent with violence, according to police and Australian Associated Press reporting. The children’s mother declined full autopsies, authorities said, leaving investigators to rely on external examinations along with evidence collected at the bungalow, surveillance recordings and witness accounts. The bodies were subsequently released to the family.
Police also interviewed Shaw’s wife about the family’s circumstances before the deaths. Investigators said she described marital problems dating to 2022 and told them her husband had experienced severe anxiety. Police said they were not aware of medical records showing that Shaw had received psychiatric treatment. Those circumstances have been reported as part of the investigation, but authorities have not established a definitive motive for the children’s killings.
Australian officials provided consular assistance to the family following the deaths. Western Australia Premier Roger Cook described the case shortly after it was discovered as a deeply sad situation and said authorities needed time to determine what had happened. Friends interviewed by Australian media also expressed shock after police announced their findings.
Denpasar police have moved to conclude the criminal investigation because the person they identified as responsible for the children’s deaths is also dead. Simatupang said investigators would complete a case review and prepare the formal order needed to terminate the investigation. Police coordinated with the Australian Consulate and the children’s mother over arrangements following the deaths.
Author note: Last updated September 25, 2026.