murder-suicide

Police sources have confirmed the deaths are a murder suicide.

Two adults were found outside the house and the other five bodies were discovered inside at about 5.15am this morning.

Detectives from the Major Crime Squad have travelled to the town, about 270 kilometres south of Perth, as part of the investigation.

Two firearms were located at the scene.

Commissioner Dawson announced the discovery at a media conference in Perth, describing the deaths as a tragedy.

South Lake Minnetonka police went to check on the family at 12:21 p.m. after no one was seen or heard from in days, Interim Chief Mike Siitari told The Associated Press. Siitari wouldn't release any information on how the family members died but said there appeared to be "no threat or danger to the community."

The fire was reported late Tuesday in the family's Long Branch home, not far from the beach.

When firefighters arrived, the victims were "found in the same upstairs bedroom and they were struggling to survive," said Marc LeMieux, first assistant Monmouth County prosecutor.

A couple and their two children were taken to a hospital, where they died. Some of their injuries were unrelated to the fire, LeMieux said.

Police say 29-year-old Russell Smith shot and killed his wife and two young children before turning the gun on himself Sunday at their home in Roy, about 30 miles north of Salt Lake City.

A relative discovered Smith's body, along with those of his wife, 26-year-old Shawna Smith, and their children, 6-year-old Tylee and 2-year-old Blake, that night.

Shawna Smith's mother, Sheila Pruitt of Tacoma, Washington, said Monday the family missed a planned Sunday visit to Russell Smith's family, but there were no signs violence before the deaths.