Floreat shooting: The heartbreaking decision a mother gunned down alongside her daughter was forced to make in the weeks before property developer’s horrific double murder-suicide – as his disturbing final act is revealed
A mother-of-two who was shot with her daughter by her partner’s crazed ex-husband struggled to decide whether to share her concerns about the killer with her children, a friend has revealed.
Mark Bombara, 63, stormed Jennifer Petelczyc’s Floreat home, in Perth’s posh western suburbs, at around 4.30pm on Friday, looking for his ex-wife, Rowena.
Unable to find his ex-wife, Bombara instead fatally shot her 53-year-old girlfriend and her daughter Gretl Petelczyc, 18, before turning the gun on himself.
A family friend of Ms Petelczyc told Daily Mail Australia the mother-of-two confided she feared for her family’s safety after learning Bombara, a registered gun owner, was driving around with a Glock under the seat of his car, seeking to his ex-wife.
Ms Bombara has been staying with the Petelczycs on and off since fleeing her $4.58 million marital home in Mosman Park in April amid the couple’s acrimonious divorce.
The family friend said his mother was told by Ms Petelczyz, one of her best friends, that she was unsure whether she should tell her children that Bombara was a threat to their safety.
Mark Bombara, 63, stormed Jennifer Petelczyc’s Floreat home, in Perth’s posh western suburbs, at around 4.30pm on Friday looking for his estranged wife Rowena. Unable to find her, Bombara instead fatally shot her 53-year-old friend Jennifer Petelczyz and her daughter Gretl, 18 (pictured together), before turning the gun on himself.
Mark James Bombara was on the hunt for his former partner, Rowena, who was staying with Ms Petelczyc after their bitter divorce (Bombara and Rowena are pictured together)
He said his mother urged Ms Petelczyc to tell her two daughters, Gretl, 18, and Liesl, 23, about her concerns because they were now adults. door.
The family friend said Petelczyc visited his parents regularly, seeking legal advice from his lawyer father on ways she could protect Rowena and her daughters.
He said the last time his parents saw Ms Petelczyc, two weeks ago, shortly before they went on holiday, his father shouted at her as she walked down the driveway: ‘Don’t forget to report it. [Bombara driving around with a gun] to the police’.
Ms Petelczyc shouted back: “I will” before turning around and going home.
The family friend said they are unsure whether or not Ms Petelczyc reported the matter to police.
Daily Mail Australia was told by WA Police that they have been unable to find any records showing Ms Petelczyc has reported the incident to police.
The family friend said if Bombara, who was part of a local gun club, was reported to police, he does not understand how he would have been allowed to keep his firearm if there was a fear of violence.
Over the past six months, Bombara had become increasingly erratic, the friend said.
The friend said he understands the property developer, who shared four children with his ex-wife, had suffered from mini-strokes and diabetes but had not received treatment, leading to significant personality changes.
Gretl, who recently achieved her P plates, was just getting started in life after completing high school and earning a bachelor’s degree in sport from the University of WA. Her mother had been considering whether to tell her daughters about the threat posed by Bombara
Friday’s tragedy leaves daughter Liesl as the only surviving member of the immediate family (Gretl and Liesl are pictured together)
It remains unclear how Bombara gained access to the home Friday afternoon, but neighbors reported seeing the family’s alarm light flashing, indicating he had broken in.
Daily Mail Australia understands that after Bombara entered, he encountered Ms Petelczyc and her daughter in separate rooms and shot them both in the head.
It is also believed that he shot himself several times in the chest before landing a fatal blow to the head.
The friend described Ms Petelczyc as a courageous woman who staunchly protected the people she loved.
He said Mrs Petelczyc had worked hard to support her daughters after losing her husband Jon to pancreatic cancer in 2019.
He said Jon, a businessman, had worked all his life to retire in 2020 but tragically died just months before achieving his dream.
The deaths of Mrs Petelczyc and Gretl are the latest tragedy to befall the family after father and husband Jon (pictured with Mrs Petelczyc) died in 2019
A neighbor described Bombara’s former partner, Rowena, (centre) as ‘lovely’ and him as ‘private’
He was so fixated on achieving his goal that he named his company 2020 Business Consultants and the license plates of all family members included the number.
The loss of Mr Petelczyc had a profound impact on the family and the local community, who are now reeling from yet another tragedy.
In 2017, Mr Petelczyc made headlines after voluntarily purchasing a defibrillator to keep in the family’s car port in case anyone nearby ever needed it.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Petelczyc, who worked in a local surgeon’s office, were active members of the community.
She took part in council meetings and they both previously worked on the board of their daughters’ school, St Hilda’s Anglican School for Girls, where Ms Bombara’s daughters were also students.
Meanwhile, Gretl was a keen water polo player and had gone on to study sport at the University of Western Australia, where her sister also obtained a degree.
It is understood Bombara tied up the two women with a cable after being unable to find Rowena (centre).
Close family friend Daele Dobsen told Daily Mail Australia on Saturday that Ms Petelczyc was a devoted mother and complained that Gretl, who only recently got her P plates, was only just getting started in life.
Ms Dobsen said she did not want Ms Petelczyc and Gretl to be remembered as “victims of domestic violence”.
“I want them to be remembered as wonderful members of our community and I am overwhelmed by their loss,” she said.
‘In my friendship with Jenny, I found her to be very kind and generous to myself and my family. Last year she even opened her home to my son’s 18th birthday party when I couldn’t find a venue.
“Jenny was a devoted mother who would do anything for her girls.”
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