Heartbreaking way sister found out about family's mass murder
The sister of a Perth woman who died in an alleged mass murder only found out about the tragedy after watching TV.
In the space of less than 24 hours, Taryn and Alan Tottman lost five members of their family.
Mara Harvey, her three daughters, and her mother Beverley, were slain in their Bedford home, allegedly by Mara’s partner Anthony John Harvey.
“I turned the TV on and I saw my sister’s fence,” Taryn Tottman said.
“I knew it was her fence, but at the same time it wasn’t her fence. Part of me didn’t think it was real.”
Mr Tottman said the family are struggling to cope and still don’t understand what happened, as there was “no indication” of any problem in the family.
He added they were “beautiful people”.
“It’s a raw time, it’s just unfathomable,” he said. “We just can’t come to terms with what’s happened.”
Mrs Tottman said the victims were “good people”.
“My mum – she loved to help,” she said. “She was such a good person.”
The couple added they’ve also had to explain to the tragedy to their children.
“There’s no more play dates,” Mrs Tottman said.
“Grandma’s gone, Auntie Mara’s gone,” her husband added.
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