Dr Leonie Geldenhuys and her daughter Janie / Picture: Supplied Source: Supplied
A POPULAR country GP was found knifed to death beside her bed yesterday before her husband later killed himself in what detectives believe is a shocking murder suicide.
The couple’s two teenage sons woke yesterday morning to find their mother, Dr Leonie Geldenhuys, 45, dead in their Lithgow home. Their father, former doctor Jakavas Geldenhuys, was missing.
Police at the scene in Lithgow / Picture: Tim Hunter Source: News Corp Australia
As homicide detectives joined local police in a manhunt, the body of Mr Geldenhuys, 54, was found on a family property in nearby Wolgan Valley Rd after lunchtime. He apparently gassed himself in the car.
Detectives believe there had been conflict in the family for some time and the couple was estranged. Dr Geldenhuys had sent his wife flowers on Monday to Lithgow Medical Practice where she worked.
Police at the scene in Lithgow / Picture: Tim Hunter Source: News Corp Australia
“He appeared to want to to try and smooth things over,” a police source said.
The brothers, 13 and 18, were last night being looked after by the tight-knit local community as police drove their sister Janie back to Lithgow from Sydney, where she attends university.
“Traumatised, unimaginably traumatised, to find your mother deceased and then as the day has gone on, we have had to inform them that their father had been found dead,” Detective Inspector Luke Rankin of Bathurst police said.
Dr Geldenhuys and her husband, both from South Africa, had moved to the area about six years ago.
Police at the scene in Lithgow / Picture: Tim Hunter Source: News Corp Australia
Devastated patients read the note posted on the door of the medical practice last night. The note read: “We are deeply saddened by the tragic news of the passing of our much loved and respected colleague, Dr Leonie Geldenhuys.”
Described as caring and calming, she also looked after patients at aged care homes in Tanderra and Cooinda, where her colleagues spoke of their shock.
“She was one of the nicest most caring, gentle, competent doctors that I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with,” one nurse told The Daily Telegraph.
“She was beautiful, there wasn’t a person that didn’t like her. She worked so closely with all of us. We’re all devastated.”
Police at the scene in Lithgow / Picture: Tim Hunter Source: News Corp Australia
A Lithgow neighbour John Roe said it had been terrible to see the oldest son just walking up and down the road early in the morning, at a loss to know what to do.
Mr Roe, who was also a patient, said Dr Geldenhuys death was a “huge loss”.
“You could go in there and you could be diagnosed with something very serious and you’re feeling pretty low, but by the time you come out of there, you felt so positive,” Mr Roe said.
“I had a scare with prostate cancer and she uplifted me. She devoted so much time to her patients, she really cared. She had that persona about her, it’s just such a huge loss.”
Mr Geldenhuys was also a doctor but had not renewed his practising certificate..
The teenage brothers called emergency services when they found their mum but she could not be revived.
Autopsies will determine how the couple died.
For support and information about suicide prevention, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467.