Homicide detectives called in after three people found dead in Richmond Hill home

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Neighbours are “upset” and “scared” as they wait to learn what happened to three people found dead in a Richmond Hill home on Thursday.

Loretta DiPedde lives next door to the massive two-storey house on MacKay Dr. – near Yonge St. and Carrville Rd. – and wondered what happened in the house after seeing York Regional Police officers arrive at the home in the afternoon.

“Nothing like this has happened. This (street ) is changing,” said DiPedde, who moved into the neighbourhood in the 1980s.

“I’m scared when I saw this yesterday. I couldn’t sleep the whole night,“ she said. “It’s not pleasant, not very pleasant.”

She could only speculate the people found dead were the couple who lived in the basement with a small child.

“But I have never seen them,” DiPedde said.

When asked whether she was worried that one of the three might be a small child, or baby, she shook her head and said, “That is heartbreaking if they did something to the child.”

DiPedde along with a neighbour across the street named Fatah said a family of four – a husband and wife with two children – live in the upper part of the two-storey home with their two small children.

And it’s believed a family of three – who moved in a few months ago – live in the basement.

Police seals could be seen on a side door of the home that leads to the basement apartment.

In the front driveway were two parked cars  – one a blue four-door Tesla and a black Cadillac SRX4, which had police seals on all its doors.

On Thursday night, Duty-Insp. Tim Skinner spoke to media at the scene and explained officers went to the home at 4:15 p.m. to conduct a “wellness check.”

“Our officers were called to a residence in Richmond Hill to check on the well-being of the occupants there,” he said. “And, tragically, when they arrived they found three persons to be deceased.”

“Our Homicide Unit is engaged in leading the investigation,” Skinner added.

Police have yet to offer any details about what transpired inside the home.

“At the moment we have investigators inside examining the scene and starting up the investigation,” Skinner said, adding there is no threat to members of the public.

The home, located in the Richvale area, was cordoned off with police tape on Friday and officers were sitting in their vehicles outside. By mid-afternoon a detective was seen going door-to-door.

Around 3:15 p.m., Homicide detectives showed up with Forensic Identification officers and entered into the house.

Police said post-mortem examinations will be conducted on the three deceased on Saturday.

jboland@postmedia.com