World · East Asia & Pacific · 16 mins ago
Inquest finds police missed chances to prevent Floreat murders
In May 2024, Mark Bombara killed Jennifer and Gretl Petelczyc in their home in Floreat, a suburb of Perth.
Bombara had gone there looking for his estranged wife, Rowena, who had left him weeks earlier.
Police had been warned about Bombara's mental health and possible guns when they helped Rowena collect belongings from the family home about two months before the killings.
Officers did not seize or check his weapons, and a search would have found more than 1,000 rounds of illegal ammunition.
During the attack, Gretl's two calls to emergency services disconnected before she reached police, while another caller waited more than two minutes to speak to an officer.
The inquest found repeated missed chances to help the women, although the coroner agreed officers arrived too late to save them.
The five-day inquest examined police actions and emergency call delays; it also heard the coroner say Gretl might have been reassured if she had reached an officer.
An inquest found a series of police errors and missed opportunities before Mark Bombara murdered Jennifer Petelczyc and her daughter Gretl in Floreat, Perth.
Bombara was looking for his estranged wife, Rowena, when he entered the Petelczycs’ home on May 24, 2024.
The inquest heard police had received warnings about Bombara’s mental health and possible firearms, but did not seize or search for weapons.
Gretl’s two emergency calls were not connected to an officer, and Ariel Bombara waited two minutes and 18 seconds for her call to reach police.
The inquest also heard Bombara’s daughter describe him as a manipulator and apologise to the victims’ family.
- Who
- Mark Bombara murdered Jennifer Petelczyc and her daughter Gretl; the inquest examined police actions.
- What
- An inquest found missed opportunities and errors before the murders.
- When
- The murders took place on May 24, 2024. The inquest was held over five days in November 2026.
- Where
- Floreat, Perth, Western Australia.
- Why
- Bombara was looking for his estranged wife, Rowena, who was not at the home.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Police escorted Rowena Bombara to the family home to collect her belongings, but did not seize weapons or search for unsecured guns.
Mark Bombara killed Jennifer and Gretl Petelczyc at their Floreat home and then killed himself.
Gretl twice called emergency services but was not connected to an officer; Ariel Bombara waited two minutes and 18 seconds for her call to reach police.
A five-day inquest examined the murders and police errors and missed opportunities.
- Victims
- Jennifer Petelczyc, 59, and Gretl Petelczyc, 18
- Gunman
- Mark James Bombara, 63
- Location
- Floreat, Perth
- Date of murders
- May 24, 2024
- Emergency call wait
- Ariel Bombara waited 2 minutes and 18 seconds for connection to police
- Illegal ammunition
- More than 1,000 rounds were found in the home’s gun safe or other locations
2 sources
What people are saying
planned choices … made to murder, underpinned by a lifetime of power, privilege, control and entitlement
He was a devious, ruthless manipulator who felt so entitled to my mum's energy and enduring unpaid labour
I hate to say it, but he seemed like a nice guy