Australian Expat Kills Kids, Self in Bali After Wife Hears 'Stop Daddy' Scream

A shocking incident has unfolded in Bali, where an Australian expatriate, Damien John Shaw, 56, was discovered deceased alongside his two young children in what authorities believe to be a murder-su*cide. The grim discovery on September 13, 2026, followed a terrifying phone call his wife received, during which their daughter was heard pleading, 'stop daddy.'

Police reports indicate that Shaw allegedly strangled his 6-year-old son and 4-year-old daughter before taking his own life by hanging in their Kuta bungalow. His wife, who was approximately 600 miles away in Jakarta at the time, immediately contacted a neighbor to check on her family after the harrowing call.

Upon arrival, Bali residents found Shaw hanging, with the bodies of his children tragically piled nearby. Surveillance footage from the area reportedly captured a distressing sequence of events: the son's screams emanating from inside the residence, followed by the daughter briefly running outside before Shaw forcibly brought her back in. These details were shared by police in statements relayed through Bali Eyewitness News.

I Gede Adi Saputra Jaya, a Denpasar city police official, confirmed that investigators have spoken with the victim's wife. However, progress has been slow due to her profound state of shock and grief. The wife informed police that their marriage had been fraught with difficulties for several years, and she had moved to her parents' house two weeks prior to the tragic deaths.

Neighbors in Perth, Australia, Shaw's former hometown, described the family as 'private' yet peaceful. One neighbor, speaking to The Australian, noted, 'He was very private but never caused any trouble, we always exchanged pleasantries.'

Further investigations revealed that Shaw had attempted su*cide roughly a month before this tragedy. His wife had intervened at that time, but the family did not pursue psychiatric treatment, according to police.