Family is devastated over death of twins Clare and Rachel Wallmeyer in a Geelong house fire, The 42-year-olds died when fire started in the lounge of their Geelong unit.
Older brother Mark Wallmeyer said the family were reeling.
"Mum's really struggling. We loved them," he said. "It was always going to happen, but you're never happy when family dies."
Firefighters rushed to the twins' Grovedale unit about 9.40pm on Monday after neighbours reported smoke.
Acting Inspector Gary Coombes, of Geelong police, said the CFA had to force its way into the home.
Once inside, firefighters found the twins lying next to each other on the lounge floor of their Department of Human Services unit.
They were carried out, but one died at the scene and the other succumbed yesterday morning in hospital.
"It's not being treated as suspicious at this stage," Acting Insp Coombes said.
Rachel and Clare's tortured battle with anorexia was well documented after they developed the severe eating disorder in their early teens.
The siblings had a history of criminal offences and drug use, which was believed to be linked to their psychological disorder.
They had made suicide attempts and said their only comfort was knowing they would die together.
"I think most people have accepted that we won't live through this, and we don't want to live with it," Rachel said in 2004.
Acting Insp Coombes ruled out a possible suicide but confirmed investigations were continuing.
"There is a range of possibly theories. There could be cigarettes involved or anything of that nature," he said. "It's a tragic end to two lives in a tragic set of circumstances that has led to this."
Clare and Rachel were well-known in Geelong.
In late 2004 they they attracted world-wide attention with their tiny, wasted bodies and gaunt faces appearing on the pages of local and overseas newspapers and television screens after telling their unhappy story on 60 Minutes and on an Entertainment Tonight spin-off program The Insider on US television.
At the time, they told of how they were comforted by the thought they would die together.
The twins, who first had their story told in the Geelong Advertiser, talked of their struggle and said people started to notice them when they became anorexic at school.
Rachel said anorexia had made her into something.
"You take away anorexia and I am nothing, I don't even know who I am,'' Rachel said.
But the two also had a volatile relationship, with Rachel accused of trying to murder her sister in 2010.
Rachel Wallmeyer was once charged by police with the attempted murder of Clare.
It was alleged police were called to the apartment they shared in Camira Court in November 2010 when officers witnessed Rachel trying to throttle her twin sister and making threats.
She was also charged with recklessly causing injury and unlawful assault.
In an initial court case regarding the incident, it was heard a 12-month intervention order prohibiting Rachel physically assaulting her sister had been taken out by police at Geelong Magistrates' Court two months earlier.
Rachel was granted bail and the matter adjourned for committal mention in February 2011.
The attempted murder charge was later withdrawn.
A report will be prepared for the Coroner.
Older brother Mark Wallmeyer said the family were reeling.
"Mum's really struggling. We loved them," he said. "It was always going to happen, but you're never happy when family dies."
Firefighters rushed to the twins' Grovedale unit about 9.40pm on Monday after neighbours reported smoke.
Acting Inspector Gary Coombes, of Geelong police, said the CFA had to force its way into the home.
Once inside, firefighters found the twins lying next to each other on the lounge floor of their Department of Human Services unit.
They were carried out, but one died at the scene and the other succumbed yesterday morning in hospital.
"It's not being treated as suspicious at this stage," Acting Insp Coombes said.
Rachel and Clare's tortured battle with anorexia was well documented after they developed the severe eating disorder in their early teens.
The siblings had a history of criminal offences and drug use, which was believed to be linked to their psychological disorder.
They had made suicide attempts and said their only comfort was knowing they would die together.
"I think most people have accepted that we won't live through this, and we don't want to live with it," Rachel said in 2004.
Acting Insp Coombes ruled out a possible suicide but confirmed investigations were continuing.
"There is a range of possibly theories. There could be cigarettes involved or anything of that nature," he said. "It's a tragic end to two lives in a tragic set of circumstances that has led to this."
Clare and Rachel were well-known in Geelong.
In late 2004 they they attracted world-wide attention with their tiny, wasted bodies and gaunt faces appearing on the pages of local and overseas newspapers and television screens after telling their unhappy story on 60 Minutes and on an Entertainment Tonight spin-off program The Insider on US television.
At the time, they told of how they were comforted by the thought they would die together.
The twins, who first had their story told in the Geelong Advertiser, talked of their struggle and said people started to notice them when they became anorexic at school.
Rachel said anorexia had made her into something.
"You take away anorexia and I am nothing, I don't even know who I am,'' Rachel said.
But the two also had a volatile relationship, with Rachel accused of trying to murder her sister in 2010.
Rachel Wallmeyer was once charged by police with the attempted murder of Clare.
It was alleged police were called to the apartment they shared in Camira Court in November 2010 when officers witnessed Rachel trying to throttle her twin sister and making threats.
She was also charged with recklessly causing injury and unlawful assault.
In an initial court case regarding the incident, it was heard a 12-month intervention order prohibiting Rachel physically assaulting her sister had been taken out by police at Geelong Magistrates' Court two months earlier.
Rachel was granted bail and the matter adjourned for committal mention in February 2011.
The attempted murder charge was later withdrawn.
A report will be prepared for the Coroner.
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