A 13-year-old girl managed to escape an apparent double-murder suicide late Monday at a home in Toronto's east end that claimed the life of a man and two women, including the teen's mother, residents said Tuesday.

"We heard screaming from the little girl and she laid down on the lawn and she was all in blood saying … 'Please call 911' and 'I think my mom is dying,'" said Ria Hussein.

Police cordoned off the area around the east-end Toronto home where three people died Monday night.
(CBC)

Investigators said a 32-year-old man killed his 47-year-old common-law wife and her 78-year-old mother before taking his own life, all in a single room of their Scarborough home.

A police spokesman would not confirm reports that the victims had been stabbed. The names have not been released.

Neighbours said the family had just returned from the teen's graduation ceremony.

The girl, believed to be the woman's daughter from a previous relationship, was treated in hospital for cuts to hands, then released into the care of family members.

Man recently lost job: neighbours

On Tuesday, Toronto police were still on scene trying to piece together what happened, hoping autopsies scheduled for the afternoon might provide some clues.

At first, investigators suspected a triple homicide and spent hours scouring the area surrounding the house on Knowles Drive, near Morningside Drive and Finch Avenue East, for suspects. That search was called off early Tuesday morning.

Forensic teams removed the bodies early Tuesday morning.
(Jamie Strashin/CBC)

Neighbours were shocked to awake Tuesday to see the house on a quiet cul-de-sac cordoned off by police tape.

Many described the home's residents as a good family, well-liked by those in the area.

Some, however, said the man had been distraught about a recent job loss.

One neighbour commented that he'll miss the grandmother's morning tai chi ritual.

Investigators expect to be sifting through evidence at the crime scene for several days.