Detectives who think a shop worker killed her two young sons then committed suicide are trying to find the reasons behind the tragedy.
Salesman Richard Talby returned from a business trip to find the bodies of wife Susan, 42, and children Joseph, four, and Paul, three, at the family home in Werrington, Peterborough, Cambs, late on Thursday, police sources said.
Officers said they had made no arrests and were treating the children's deaths as murder and Mrs Talby's as "unexplained".
Forensic teams were examining the Talbys' semi-detached house, which remained sealed off.
Neighbours said they could not come to terms with the deaths of Mrs Talby and the boys.
Printer Steve France and his wife Fiona said they were finding it difficult to comprehend what had happened. "What can you say?" said Fiona France, 37. "We're bewildered, shocked. We can't take it in. They were a lovely couple. Two lovely boys. It's just such a shock."
Joseph Talby was a pupil at nearby Werrington Primary School.
Head Ben Wilding said the school was in shock and counsellors were on hand to comfort children. "Our thoughts and prayers are with the family at this most desperate time," he said.
Mrs Talby worked for Next in Peterborough. "She worked for us for eight years," said a Next spokeswoman. "Needless to say it is a great shock and our thoughts are with her family."
Police have yet to reveal how Mrs Talby and her sons died.
