Four bodies found in home on Welwyn Avenue

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The family of four found dead in a Scarborough bungalow Wednesday is a case of triple murder and suicide, police said at a press conference today.

Police were called to the home, at 12 Welwyn Ave. near Ellesmere and Scarborough Golf Club roads, at 8:20 a.m.

"When appropriate backup arrived...they entered the premises. As they did so, they observed a note on the door that advised that anyone who attended was to call the police," said Det. Sgt. Pauline Gray, adding officers found two men, two women and the family dog dead.

Police didn't release the names of the deceased but neighbours identified them as Keith Delong, his wife Wanda and their adult children Richard and Elizabeth.

Police wouldn't say who they believe was the killer.

Peter Lemonides, a neighbour, said Keith and Wanda were planning to leave Wednesday for Mexico to visit Wanda's dying mother. "They asked me to keep an eye on their son while they were away because the son is sick," he said, noting Richard has a serious bone disease. Keith and Wanda planned to be away for one to two weeks.

Keith, Wanda and Richard lived in the Welwyn Avenue bungalow since 1974.

Lemonides, 42, said Elizabeth was there Tuesday visiting her family. She lived with her husband in Whitby.

The man who called police Wednesday morning was taken into custody and later released without charges.

Seth Rogers, who lives next door to the Delongs, said he saw the man being taken into custody. "He just started crying...," Rogers, 36, said. "He put his elbows on the mailbox and let his emotions out."

At about the same time, Rogers said he overheard on an officer's radio: "Start looking for bodies. Found one under the table." Then more officers rushed inside.

Rogers said he usually hears the Delong family dog, Charlotte, barking every morning but he didn't hear it Wednesday. �"At 8 a.m. the dog would bark. At 8:30 Keith would feed the birds in his backyard. He had eight or nine bird feeders. He'd then do his gardening and recycling."

Police canvassed the neighbourhood for information.

Rogers said an officer asked him if he heard any gunshots Tuesday night. He said he didn't hear anything.

Gray, of the homicide squad, wouldn't comment on whether or not there were guns in the house.

Neighbours said Keith worked for IBM but retired a number of years ago. His wife was a homemaker.

"He and his wife loved camping. They used to go camping all the time," Lemonides said. "This past summer they went to Fort Erie."

Lemonides said the Delongs were a "great" family. "They were always keeping an eye out on the neighbourhood," he said. "I used to play with Elizabeth when we were kids. We grew up together."

Local resident John Mann, 59, described the Delongs as quiet people. "He (Keith) brought me some firewood two weeks ago. He was very friendly," Mann said. "This is a total shock."

Gray said police aren't looking for a suspect. "I can tell you that the public is not to be alarmed. We believe this to be a case of familial violence," she said at the scene Wednesday.

Police wouldn't disclose how the victims died. Autopsies will be performed on Saturday.

"We observed a fair amount of violence," Gray said.

Lemonides said Keith was born in the U.S. and moved to Canada when he was a young boy. Wanda was born and raised in Quebec.

The murder victims are the city's 63rd, 64th and 65th of the year.