Both direct neighbours of the property where the incident occurred, number 36 on the residential Ravenswood street, slept peacefully just metres away.

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Two-hundred-and-eighty-metres away from the alleged murder home the Ravenswood Heights Primary sat in plain sight, and but for a collection of police cars and a line of crime scene tape, the street remained unchanged.

The neighbour behind the home, who can see directly into a bedroom from his own bathroom, was only alerted to what was unfolding by the bark and scurry of his dogs and did not hear so much as a scream.

That neighbour, 63-year-old Ken Walkley, had lived behind the property for 10 years and said the area had been subject to its fair share of brushes with crime.

He said about two years ago there had been a drug-related shooting two-doors up from his house - a stone's throw from number 36 Prossers Forest Road - and just last year a nearby house had been dealing ice from it before police kicked down the front door.

Mr Walkley said his back-fence neighbours, who had only recently moved in, had been typically quiet, but had started acting differently this week.

He said they normally had their lights on all night and would have the blinds open to their bedroom, but for the past two nights they had been closed.

He also said a black Mitsubishi that had parked in the unkempt backyard of the home "for months" had suddenly vanished when he awoke on Thursday morning.

The residents of 38 Prossers Forest Road, 85-year-old John Kemperle, his wife and step-daughter, were awaken by a bang on their door about 4.30am.

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Police had arrived at the house and were seeking information about what had happened.

Mr Kemperle said he had been fast asleep during the alleged murder, and it was only the rap on the door that stirred him.

He and his family had lived in the home he described as "quiet" for 12 years and could recall any criminal commotion of note.

He said learning of what had unfolded mere metres from his front door was "frightening".

As Mr Kemeperle spoke the state forensics team descended on the property.

By mid-afternoon the alleged murderer remained on the run despite the efforts of Tasmania Police.

As part of the manhunt the Westpac Rescue Helicopter had been searching Newnham, Rocherlea, Kings Meadows, Hollybank Forest and along Golconda Road towards Pipers Brook.

A police spokesperson said the man on the run was not a danger to the community, and he had been known to the victims.

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