Mr. Tompkins was released by Toronto Police on Thursday, a day after four bodies, including his wife's, were found inside a Scarborough home. Ms. Tompkins's parents and her brother were also found dead.

A Durham Regional Police cruiser has been parked outside the Tompkins's home, at Garden and Mary streets, since Wednesday, with yellow tape surrounding the house.

Anne Smith, who lived across the court from the Tompkins, said the neighbourhood is "a small-knit community. I'm concerned about activity in the neighbourhood. It's a sleepy community."

Having a murder investigation touching the area "does concern me. It's quiet," Ms. Smith said.

"I'm very shocked," she said, adding she didn't see the Tompkins with children. "They were lovely people. It's very disheartening, very upsetting."

Mr. Tompkins had served on the condominium committee for a number of years, she said. "He was very helpful. He was a very helpful man. They were very active."

The news was "sad. They always kept to themselves," Ms. Smith said. "He was a real handyman. He worked in his garage a lot. He was a very friendly chap."

Other neighbours were reluctant to talk, with one woman saying she didn't know the Tompkins.

"I never actually had a conversation with them," said the woman, who lived three doors away.

Halloween decorations, covered in snow, remained on the small garden outside the Tompkins's home, while the blinds were also drawn.

"He was a quiet guy. I didn't see him much. He kept to himself. I didn't know anything about her. He was just a quiet guy," said one man, who refused to give his name.

"The guy probably needs his space. I feel bad for him," the man said.

Another neighbour said it was upsetting to hear about the incident. "It is, especially when we didn't know the police car was there.

"Usually, it's very, very quiet," the woman said.

A call to Newton Trelawney Property Management Services, the company that maintains the Garden Street complex, wasn't returned.