Gosling's friend said she had broken up with O'Shaughnessy recently

O'Shaughnessy sent the photos a day before her husband's birthday

Gosling's family said O'Shaughnessy was controlling and was afraid Gosling would leave him for her husband, who she was separated from

A man who killed his partner and her three young children sent pictures of the bodies to the children's biological father as a 'birthday gift' before killing himself in the grisly murder-suicide.

LaTasha Gosling, 27, of Tisdale, Saskatchewan, in Canada, and her two daughters, Janyaa, 4, and Jenika, 8, and her son Landen, 7, were discovered Wednesday.

Steve O’Shaughnessy, 23, was found dead just hours later after taking his own life in Prince Albert.

O'Shaughnessy had taken the six-month-old daughter he and Gosling shared following the murders. Police found the infant unharmed when they discovered O'Shaughnessy's body.

LaTasha Gosling, 27, and her two daughters, Janyaa, 4, and Jenika, 8, and her son Landen, 7, (above) were murdered early Wednesday by Gosling's partner Steve O'Shaughnessy

O’Shaughnessy, 23, was found dead just hours later after taking his own life. Police found the six-month-old baby daughter he shared with Gosling alive and unharmed

Gosling's cousin Tim Funk said O'Shaughnessy sent the photos in a text message to the children's father, Jason Gosling, the day before his birthday.

O'Shaughnessy sent photos of the bodies in a text message to the children's father Jason Gosling the day before his birthday

'He sent them to him as a birthday gift,' Funk told the National Post.

Latasha Gosling was separated from her husband but not divorced, and Jason Gosling would often visit his three children at the trailer Latasha shared with O'Shaughnessy.

According to Latasha's parents, O'Shaughnessy became increasingly worried that his partner would leave him and return to her husband.

They said O'Shaughnessy had been seen yelling at Latasha and her children and was known to lock them inside the trailer when he had to leave the house.

Latasha's parents told the National Post that they have since learned O'Shaughnessy recently told her, 'If I can't have you, Latasha, no one will'.

Randy Gross, Latasha's father, believes his daughter had tried to leave O'Shaughnessy.

Neighbors said they heard yelling and screaming from the partners' trailer earlier this week and saw police arrive late at night.

One friend of Latasha's said the young mother had in fact ended her relationship with O'Shaughnessy this week.

Latasha Gosling was separated from her husband but not divorced, and Jason Gosling would often visit his three children at the trailer Latasha shared with O'Shaughnessy

According to Latasha's parents, O'Shaughnessy became increasingly worried that his partner would leave him and return to her husband

Amanda Henderson, who met Latasha through a Facebook group for separated and divorced parents, told Huffington Post Canada her friend broke up with O'Shaughnessy because he cheated on her.

Latasha's family referred to O'Shaughnessy as a 'monster' but said they are praying for his family.

Selina Siwy, O'Shaughnessy's sister, wrote in a social media post that the family has been trying to get him 'help for years' and they thought 'he was in the clear'.

'We loved him then and we love him now,' she wrote.

Latasha's family hope the tragic story will inspire other women to not 'hestitate'.

'For all victims...get help fast. Stay safe,' said Randy Gross.

A GoFundMe page to pay for the Gosling family's funeral costs and the surviving infant girl has since raised more than $50,000.

They said O'Shaughnessy had been seen yelling at Latasha and her children and was known to lock them inside the trailer when he had to leave the house