Dean Field was reserved and quiet, those that met him say.

Warning: This story discusses family harm, suicide and mental health, and may upset some readers.

The brother of the man who apparently killed his children in a suspected murder-suicide has spoken out.

August, Hugo, and Goldie Field, aged 7, 5 and 1 were seemingly murdered by their father at the family home which was consumed by fire. Police have confirmed they are treating the incident as a homicide.

Their father Dean Field is believed to have died soon after in a suspected suicide.

Field’s brother Mark told Stuff on Tuesday everyone in their family was just trying to comprehend the tragedy.

“From our point of view, until he was 36 years old he had been nothing but a loving father… he was just a broken man.”

Mark Field also added his brother felt empty for the six days before the suspected murder-suicide.

Dean Field. Photo: SUPPLIED

The family of the mother of the three children has asked for privacy. New Zealand has rallied around her, with a fundraising page attracting over $300,000 by Tuesday evening.

The small rural settlement of Sanson in the heart of Manawatū farming country was still reeling on Tuesday.

“I visited them a few days ago … seemed a nice family…” was a sentiment echoed by many who had brief dealings with the Fields.

At the time, Field was the low profile managing director of Aster Transport and Mechanical Services – a heavy and light transport business that he operated with his estranged wife.

Dean Field died on Saturday along with his three children. Photo: SUPPLIED

Neighbour Alan Parker painted a picture of a helpful man that helped fix any mechanical problems he was having.

Field he said, took his children fishing and into the outdoors.

In 2018, when Field set up his company, he said on the business webpage that he had 12 years experience as a heavy diesel mechanic and had spent six years as workshop foreman at a “major truck workshop” in Palmerston North where he oversaw a team of ten mechanics.

Trucks it seems were a major part of his life – his Facebook profile photo shows a groom and bride in front of one of his own, adorned with white ribbons.

In other family photos on social media he appears behind a relative, with one of his boys on his shoulders. In another, he ducks his head.

The three children who died in the Sanson fire on Saturday are August, Hugo and Goldie.

Property records show that Field previously lived in Tangimoana, a tiny township around half an hour’s drive from Palmerston North. Those who knew him there declined to comment.

He also owned property in Palmerston North before later moving to the four-bedroom house on a huge section in Sanson, where he owned the property with his estranged wife.

Several Sanson businesses not far from the family home told Stuff they had never seen or had any interaction with Field.

“We saw the kids,” a woman at the local takeaway said. “The eldest boy came in and he was so kind. I would give him a lolly and he would ask for two for his brother and sister. It’s so very sad.”

But she never saw Field.

Fire and Emergency NZ, who attended the scene along with armed police officers, would not comment while an investigation was under way.

“The wellbeing of our people is our top priority and we are supporting all the brigades who attended this traumatic incident,” a spokesperson said.

Police on Tuesday said they were now treating the case as a homicide. They earlier said Field was not burned by the blaze, and that they were not seeking anyone else in relation to the incident.

It’s understood Field and the mother of the children, both of whom had lived at the property, were separating.

Oranga Tamariki told Stuff it had no involvement with the family.

Manawatū Area Commander Inspector Ross Grantham said there were many questions that needed to be answered. Photo: Adele Rycroft

As the mother grieves, the wider Sanson community and New Zealanders have rallied together – raising over $300,000 in two days and growing.

It’s a measure of how deeply this tragedy has been felt – something Manawatū area commander Inspector Ross Grantham addressed at a media conference on Monday.

“I know the community have lots of questions about this case, as do we,” he said.

Those questions will centre around if police had prior interactions with Field – and if there were any red flags leading up to Saturday.

SOURCE: https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/360890001/family-dean-field-speak-out-suspected-murder-suicide-killed-three-children