“Additionally, a range of factors, including the search environment and prevailing weather conditions, significantly reduce the likelihood of locating the infant in the immediate term.”
Teams would continue shoreline monitoring and inspections across the coming days.
Police have revealed more details of the timeline leading up to the deaths, telling the ABC that Wright visited the Mt Gambier police station on Sunday. They did not say why.
The next day, police conducted a welfare check at her home at 9.28am at the request of a friend, but no one was home.
At 11.13am, a member of the public called about Wright’s abandoned Isuzu MUX, which was found with its engine running in a carpark at Cape Northumberland, near Port MacDonnell.
Helena Wright’s 3-month-old son remains missing after she and her 23-month-old daughter were found dead off Cape Northumberland in South Australia. Photo / Google Maps
Later that day, police found the bodies of Wright and her daughter in the sea, but could not find the baby boy.
Police said the deaths, which they described as “heartbreaking”, were being investigated as a double murder-suicide as there was no evidence that other parties were involved.
Neighbours told the Adelaide-based Advertiser that the family largely kept to themselves but were friendly and known for lending a hand when needed.
They described Wright as “bubbly”, saying she enjoyed gardening and often shared light-hearted exchanges with other residents.
“They’re very religious … they go to the church every Sunday,” one said.
Wright was described as a stay-at-home mother who enjoyed sewing clothes for children.
People close to her had been aware that she was experiencing mental health challenges, although neighbours said she came across as a “great mother”, the Advertiser reported.
Police revealed that Helena Wright had attended a police station less than 24 hours before the deaths. Photo / South Australia Police
Police Commissioner Grant Stevens said it was a “tragic set of circumstances” that would have a huge impact on the remaining family.
“This is an extremely challenging time for the family of the deceased people that we have found.”
Police had spoken to Wright’s husband.
Police called the deaths “a tragic set of circumstances”. Photo / South Australia Police
Wright, originally from Estonia, lived in Compton, near Mt Gambier, with her husband and their two children, according to the ABC.
South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas said the news of their deaths was a blow that “shocked you to the core”, Nine News reported.
“Wherever we see the loss of anybody, it’s a tragedy. Where it involves children, that breaks your heart.”
Local mayor Kylie Boston said everybody was stunned “because you hope these things don’t ever happen”.