An elderly couple have been bashed to death in their South Coast home.
Police found the bodies of 86-year-old Kenneth Keyte and his wife, 71-year-old woman Margaret, lying on the loungeroom floor of their home at Batehaven, near Bateman's Bay.
Police had to force their way into the home when the couple's son raised the alarm, saying he had been unable to contact his parents.
The son said he went to his parents' home and found their cars in the driveway, but there was no answer at the door.
A police source has told Fairfax there were obvious signs of violence at the crime scene.
"Both suffered severe head injuries. Whoever did this continued to hit them while they were on the floor," they said.
Acting Superintendent Gary McGay has told Philip Clark police are trying to work out how and when the offender entered the victims' house.
"We're certainly looking for advice or information from anyone in the local area who may have seen people wandering or suspicious activity in the area between 2pm on Saturday afternoon and when we arrived there, about 9.30pm on Sunday."
