EXCLUSIVEFloreat murder-suicide: Disturbing new details emerge about the harrowing final weeks before crazed property developer Mark Bombara shot two women dead in their Perth home while searching for his ex-wife - as haunting family photos come to light
- Jennifer Petelczyc and Gretl were shot by Mark James Bombara
- Bombara was looking for his ex-wife
- READ MORE: How family who fell victim to horrific murder-suicide in Perth had been haunted by tragedy - as heartbroken young woman is left an orphan
A crazed property developer who gunned down a mother and daughter while searching for his ex-wife had been stalking her for weeks, sources have revealed.
Mark Bombara, 63, broke into Jennifer Petelczyc's Floreat home, in Perth's ritzy western suburbs, on Friday afternoon, looking for his estranged wife, Rowena.
Unable to find his ex-wife, Bombara instead fatally shot her 53-year-old friend and the woman's daughter Gretl Petelczyc, 18, before turning the gun on himself.
Ms Bombara has been staying with Ms Petelczyc, a good friend of hers, in recent weeks as she hid in fear from her ex-husband as they underwent a bitter divorce.
A family friend of the Petelczycs told Daily Mail Australia Bombara had become increasingly erratic and crazed over the past six months.
The revelations came to light as old photos of Bombara and his ex-wife resurfaced while it also emerged the Petelczyc girls went to the same high school as the Bombara children.
![Jennifer Petelczyc, 59, and her daughter Gretl, 18, were shot dead by Mark James Bombara (pictured with his ex-wife) while he looked for his former partner](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/26/03/85344397-13460605-image-a-18_1716691011956.jpg)
Jennifer Petelczyc, 59, and her daughter Gretl, 18, were shot dead by Mark James Bombara (pictured with his ex-wife) while he looked for his former partner
![It's understood Bombara cable-tied the two women after being unable to find his ex (centre)](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/26/03/85344353-13460605-It_s_understood_Bombara_cable_tied_the_two_women_after_being_una-a-1_1716691649103.jpg)
It's understood Bombara cable-tied the two women after being unable to find his ex (centre)
Daily Mail Australia understands Ms Bombara left the couple's $4.58million dollar marital home, in Mosman Park, in April.
The friend said Bombara had been trying to hunt down his ex-wife ever since as she went on the run between friend's homes and hotel rooms.
'They were going through a nasty divorce,' the friend said.
'He had put a tracker in her car. Jenny found out and told her to get rid of her car.'
The friend described Ms Petelczyc as a 'strong and brave woman' who would do anything to stick up for and protect those she loved.
'She knew for the past few weeks that Bombara was driving around with his gun looking for Rowena,' the friend said.
'She was brave to have Rowena here staying with her.
'Someone stole Liesl's phone recently and they tracked it to Hamilton Hill,' the friend said.
'Jenny wasn't having any of it. She got in the car and drove to the house and demanded it back.
'A young nervous boy answered and claimed he had found it and handed it back.'
![A neighbour described Bombara's former partner (centre) as 'lovely' and him as 'private'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/26/03/85344355-13460605-image-a-20_1716691018456.jpg)
A neighbour described Bombara's former partner (centre) as 'lovely' and him as 'private'
![Gretl, who recently got her P-plates, was only just getting started in life after graduating high school and starting a bachelor of sport degree at the University of WA](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/26/03/85328797-13460605-Gretl_who_recently_got_her_P_plates_was_only_just_getting_starte-a-4_1716690608130.jpg)
Gretl, who recently got her P-plates, was only just getting started in life after graduating high school and starting a bachelor of sport degree at the University of WA
The friend said Ms Petelczyc had been working hard to support her daughters after losing her husband, Jon, to pancreatic cancer five years ago.
She said she heard that Ms Petelczyc and her daughter were found in separate rooms with gunshot wounds to the head.
She said Ms Petelczyc would have down everything she could to protect her daughter in their final moments.
The friend said she felt for Ms Petelczyc's eldest daughter, Liesl, 23, who is now the only surving member of the family, as well as Ms Bombara.
While Ms Bombara, who shares four adult children with her ex-husband, had been staying at the Petelczyc home in recent weeks, the friend said she believes she had recently moved into a hotel room.
'I heard she was staying in a hotel and was meant to be going to Queensland, but it seems like she didn't go,' the friend said.
'She's also expecting a grandchild any day now.'
A neighbour described Ms Bombara as 'lovely' and her ex-husband as 'private'.
The shocking deaths have rattled Perth's western suburbs community, where the Petelczyc family were active and cherished members.
![Ms Petelczyc and Gretl's deaths are the latest tragedies to befall the family after father and husband Jon (pictured with Ms Petelczyc) died in 2019](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/26/05/85328781-13460605-Ms_Petelczyc_and_Gretl_s_deaths_are_the_latest_tragedies_to_befa-a-1_1716698046995.jpg)
Ms Petelczyc and Gretl's deaths are the latest tragedies to befall the family after father and husband Jon (pictured with Ms Petelczyc) died in 2019
![Friday's tragedy leaves daughter Liesl as the sole surviving member of the immediate family](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/26/05/85330445-13460605-Friday_s_tragedy_leaves_daughter_Liesl_as_the_sole_surviving_mem-a-2_1716698047213.jpg)
Friday's tragedy leaves daughter Liesl as the sole surviving member of the immediate family
A close friend of the family, Daele Dobsen, told Daily Mail Australia on Saturday that Ms Petelczyc was a devoted mother and lamented that Gretl, who only recently got her P-plates, was just getting started in life.
Ms Dobsen said she did not want Ms Petelczyc and Gretl to be remembered as 'victims by association of domestic violence'.
'I want them to be remembered as beautiful members of our community and I am overwhelmed with their loss,' she said.
'In my friendship with Jenny, I found her to be so very kind and generous to myself and my family, even opening up her home to host my son's 18th birthday party last year when I was unable to find a venue.
'Jenny was a devoted mother who would do anything for her girls.'
Ms Dobsen said Gretl had been excelling in life since graduating St Hilda's Anglican School in 2022 and starting her bachelor of sport at the University of WA.
'Gretl was just starting her life, pursuing her love of sport through her studies. She was a talented water polo player and was working locally part time to earn her independence,' Ms Dobsen said.
At a press conference on Saturday afternoon, WA Police Detective Inspector David Gorton revealed Bombara, a registered gun owner, visited the house looking for his ex-wife before shooting the two women.
Det Insp Gorton also confirmed that Bombara's ex-wife and a daughter were in the care of the homicide squad.
Police were called to the home in the city's inner north-west at about 4.30pm local time on Friday after the gunman opened fire.
A large police presence was at the scene of the shooting.
A police helicopter was dispatched to the area and circled overhead at the height of the response.
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![More recently the family's dog, Sunny, had also died, family friend Daele Dobsen told Daily Mail Australia](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/26/05/85328793-13460605-More_recently_the_family_s_dog_Sunny_had_also_died_family_friend-a-3_1716698047549.jpg)
More recently the family's dog, Sunny, had also died, family friend Daele Dobsen told Daily Mail Australia
![Ms Petelczyc pictured with Gretl](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/05/26/05/85328801-13460605-Ms_Petelczyc_pictured_with_Gretl-a-4_1716698048061.jpg)
Ms Petelczyc pictured with Gretl