Father who meticulously planned the murder of his children, 13 and 15, before gunning them down and killing himself wrote a series of letters to his ex-wives with instructions to open them after he died

  • The two teenagers who were shot dead by their evil father have been pictured
  • Jack and Jennifer hid in their bedrooms as they were hunted by John Edwards
  • Father wrote letters to his ex-wives which would have 'raised concern'
  • Victims' mother Olga collapsed in shock when she arrived home to the scene 
  • Edwards turned one of his guns on himself shortly after the horrific murders

A father who murdered his two teenage children before killing himself wrote a series of letters to his ex-wives and relatives to be opened after his death, it has emerged.

John Edwards, 67, gunned down his children Jennifer, 13, and Jack, 15, at their house in West Pennant Hills, Sydney on Thursday before turning the gun on himself after a two-year custody battle with his estranged wife Olga, 36.

Before carrying out his terrible crime, Edwards reportedly wrote letters to his relatives and gave them to a friend with instructions to pass them on if he died.   

Jack Edwards
Jennifer Edwards

 Pictured: Jack (left), 15, and Jennifer Edwards (right), 13, shot dead by their evil father

John Edwards, 67, gunned down his children Jennifer, 13, and Jack, 15, at their house in West Pennant Hills, Sydney before turning the gun on himself at his Normanhurst home (pictured)

John Edwards, 67, gunned down his children Jennifer, 13, and Jack, 15, at their house in West Pennant Hills, Sydney, before turning the gun on himself at his home in nearby Normanhurst (pictured) 

John Edwards (pictured) gunned down his two teenage children as they huddled in a bedroom
The children were living with their mother Olga (pictured) as the result of a long-winded custody dispute, and were to have no contact with their father 'whatsoever'

The two teenagers who were shot dead by their father, John Edwards (left) had taken drastic measures to hide from the evil man for years. Right: Their mother Olga

Police, who believe Edwards may have been planning the killings for as long as a year, say the letters provide further proof that his crime was premeditated.

After hearing news of the father's suicide the friend handed the unopened letters over to police.

The content of the letters has not been made public made public but a police source told the Daily Telegraph the correspondence 'would have raised concern'.

Details of the strained relationships within the family have emerged as mourners gathered outside the north-west Sydney home to leave floral tributes for the murdered teens.  

15-year-old son Jack recently told his friend where he lived, but swore him to secrecy, fearing his father would discover the address.

'He told me not to tell anyone 'cause he didn't want his dad to know where they lived,' the friend revealed.  

Jack always described his father as abusive, he added.

Police and forensic services at the scene of the horrific shooting at West Pennant Hills, Sydney's north-west on Thursday

Police and forensic services attend the scene of a shooting at West Pennant Hills in Sydney

Jack, 15, and Jennifer Edwards, 13, were huddled together in a bedroom when Edwards stormed the West Pennant Hills house (pictured) and murdered the siblings Thursday evening

Jack, 15, and Jennifer Edwards, 13, were huddled together in a bedroom when Edwards stormed the West Pennant Hills house (pictured) and murdered the siblings Thursday evening

In the weeks leading up to her children's deaths Olga Edwards, who worked at an upper North Shore law firm, radically transformed her appearance by cutting her knee-length dark hair into a short blonde bob.

'There was always something really sad about her, but she never gave anything away,' Ironwood Coffee Company owner Michael Glenellis, whose store was located near her workplace, told The Daily Telegraph.  

Olga Edwards collapsed in shock when she arrived home to find her children 'riddled with bullets' (pictured)

Olga Edwards collapsed in shock when she arrived home to find her children 'riddled with bullets' (pictured)

On Thursday John Edwards drove to the home his children shared with their mother in a hired car, before storming inside and opening fire.

Edwards registered for his firearms licence in late 2017 - almost a decade to the day after an apprehended violence order against him ended - and purchased several guns including the ones he would ultimately use to execute the siblings.

It was around this time he and his ex-wife agreed to end a two-year custody dispute, under the proviso that the children live with their mother and have no contact with their father 'whatsoever'.

Shortly after the cold-blooded murder, Edwards turned one of the guns on himself at his own neglected home in Normanhurst (pictured), where his body was found on Friday

Shortly after the cold-blooded murder, Edwards turned one of the guns on himself at his own neglected home in Normanhurst (pictured), where his body was found on Friday

Less than 24 hours before the fateful incident Edwards collected his weapons from their storage at a gun club before heading to the house. 

He planned the timing exactly so he would arrive after the children got home from school, but before their mother returned from work.

After slaughtering his kids, the self-employed businessman then turned one of the guns on himself at his own neglected home in nearby Normanhurst, where his body was found on Friday.

Acting Assistant Commissioner Brett McFadden described the killings as a 'heinous crime' that was 'premeditated and planned'.  

One neighbour reported Edwards was 'known in the street as the grumpy guy with the border collie'.

Another stated that he was an 'unhappy man', recalling an incident in a restaurant when he seized his son by the neck and held him up against the wall.

'Poor Jack probably copped the brunt of it,' they said. 

'He never had a kind word for those kids. He was very harsh.'  

A friend of Jack, the murdered son, revealed that the 15-year-old had been discreet with his address for fear that his father might find out where he was living (pictured is a map showing West Pennant Hills, where the murders took place)

A friend of Jack, the murdered son, revealed that the 15-year-old had been discreet with his address for fear that his father might find out where he was living (pictured is a map showing West Pennant Hills, where the murders took place)

Acting Assistant Commissioner Brett McFadden said it was 'too early' to release any details about whether the children had struggled with their father in the moments before their death, although police are calling the murder a 'direct hit' (pictured are residents and police in West Pennant Hills on Friday morning)

Mr McFadden said it was 'too early' to release any details about whether the children had struggled with their father in the moments before their death, although police are calling the murder a 'direct hit' (pictured are residents and police in West Pennant Hills on Friday morning)

Mr McFadden said it was 'too early' to release any details about whether the children had struggled with their father in the moments before their death, although police are calling the murder a 'direct hit'.

Officers are now conducting a review on any history of domestic violence.

Mr McFadden also revealed that police were aware of Edwards, but he 'did not have an extensive history' and there were no current AVOs out against him.

'The 67-year-old male was the holder of a number of firearms, the two handguns located at the premises at Normanhurst were registered in his name,' he told reporters on Friday morning.

'Those handguns came into his possession lawfully earlier this year.'

Two handguns were discovered near Edwards' body when police found him at 6am on Friday. 

His border collie, Jade, was found unharmed in the house. 

Two handguns were discovered near Edwards' body when police found him at 6am on Friday, while forensic testing indicated that he had shot himself not long after the murder (pictured are police at the scene of the crime)

Two handguns were discovered near Edwards' body when police found him at 6am on Friday, while forensic testing indicated that he had shot himself not long after the murder (pictured are police at the scene of the crime)

Edwards was rejected from multiple shooting clubs in the years leading up to the murders.

Among them was the Ku-ring-gai Pistol Club at Hornsby, north Sydney, where his membership was declined due to the group's 'serious concerns' about him.

A representative of the club told The Daily Telegraph they were 'not very happy with him,' and 'turned him away [because] there were too many things about him we didn't feel comfortable with.'

The club representative said that Edwards had, to their knowledge, tried to become a member of two other clubs in the Hornsby rifle range complex.

In both cases he was similarly denied.

'He told us he had been denied a firearms licence some time previously and that's one of the reasons we decided not to have anything to do with him,' said the Pistol Club spokesperson.

'I know at least two other clubs on the complex took the same stance that we did.' 

The gun club has a series of strict vetting procedures for prospective members, including a background check and the mandatory signing of a declaration on the police firearms website.

Ross Warren, the principal of Pennant Hills High where Jack went to school, issued a letter to the parents of the deceased teenager's colleagues on Friday (pictured)

Ross Warren, the principal of Pennant Hills High where Jack went to school, issued a letter to the parents of the deceased teenager's colleagues on Friday (pictured)

Ross Warren, the principal of Pennant Hills High where Jack went to school, issued a letter to the parents of the deceased teenager's colleagues on Friday.

'One of our Year 10 students died suddenly and tragically yesterday evening,' he wrote. 'Our thoughts and heartfelt sympathy are with the student's family and friends.

'I am bringing this incident to your attention both for information and so that you may be aware of your child's concerns. It is important to try to include in your discussions positive ways of managing this sad situation.

'Many students will wish to talk with their parents, so I also encourage you to let your child know that you are aware of this incident and that you will listen to their concerns at any time they wish to share that with you.

'Our thoughts are with the student's family and friends at this tragic time and we ask that you respect their privacy.' 

Edwards was a certified financial planner who worked for insurance giant AMP and served as a volunteer firefighter, according to his Linkedin profile.

His profile lists a Graduate Diploma of Financial Planning from Deakin University and states Edwards has been aligned with AMP as a financial planner since 1995, but is believed to have ended his work with the company in 2016. 

If you or anyone around you are struggling and/or seeking support, call Lifeline on 13 11 14. 

DAD HORRIFICALLY MURDERS HIS TWO CHILDREN

WHO WERE THE VICTIMS?

A 15-year-old boy and his 13-year-old sister were shot at the West Pennant Hills home they shared with their 36-year-old mother who was treated for severe shock after arriving at the scene.

WHO WAS THE KILLER?

The children's father John Edwards, 68, who lived in nearby Normanhurst. Police say the parents' long-term relationship had broken down and a custody battle had been ongoing for about two years.

HOW WERE THE CHILDREN FOUND?

Neighbours heard gunshots in Hull Rd, a quiet suburban street, about 5.20pm on Thursday and called police and paramedics. Emergency services found the children dead in their bedrooms.

WHEN WAS THE FATHER FOUND?

The father's body was found in his home in the early hours of Friday but police believe he took his life shortly after murdering his children.

HOW DID HE ACQUIRE THE MURDER WEAPONS?

It's unclear exactly how, but he had at least four guns. Police say two 'quite powerful' pistols used in the murder and subsequent suicide were acquired legally this year and the murder was premeditated.

WHAT ARE PEOPLE SAYING ABOUT THE CRIME?

'I feel so shocked. Kids are innocent. Whatever the reason, kids shouldn't suffer' - a West Pennant Hills resident.

'The information we've gleaned ... leads me to believe this was premeditated and planned' - NSW Police Acting Assistant Commissioner Brett McFadden.

'The nature of the relationship in recent times and level of access he had to the children ... is subject to the investigation' - NSW Police Acting Assistant Commissioner Brett McFadden.

'When ambulance paramedics arrived ... we were confronted with an extremely distressing and stressful situation' - NSW Ambulance Inspector Kevin Sweeney.

 Source: AAP

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