Double-murder suicide probed in Everton Hills fire investigation
Police are investigating whether the ferocious house fire that claimed the lives of three people was a double-murder suicide carried out by one of the deceased.
The body of Graeme Thomson, 53, was identified in the charred remains of the Everton Hills home on Wednesday, leaving his colleagues at a north Queensland State Emergency Service depot "shattered".
Investigators were yet to formally identify the other two victims as Graeme's former wife, Ros, and their 24-year-old son, Dylan, but their daughter paid tribute to her deceased family on Wednesday night.
Detectives were treating the fire as suspicious and likely deliberately lit but still keeping their minds open to its cause, including whether a double-murder suicide was at the centre of the blaze.
“At this stage the Queensland Police Service are treating the matter as a suspicious situation until evidence suggests otherwise,” Detective Acting Inspector Joe Zitny said on Wednesday.
News Corp reported investigators were probing whether the 24-year-old son had set fire to the home and had spoken with his workmates, one of whom admitting he battled drug addiction.
Neighbours reported hearing an explosion and smelling fuel at the two-storey Pavonia Street home, which fire ripped through about 5.40am on Tuesday.
Rowena Ostrofski heard what sounded like something heavy being dropped on the ground, large enough to vibrate the floor, and a woman’s voice shouting help.
On Wednesday evening, Shelly Thomson posted a photo tribute to her mother, father and brother to Facebook.
Graeme’s brother Mark Thomson said they were "all sadly missed".
Mark told News Corp his brother, reported to have separated from Ros before 2009, had been staying at the home to ensure Dylan showed up to court.
“Graeme was there to make sure Dylan wasn’t going to do a runner, as he was to face court on a charge of abusing police,” he said.
“Graeme was a good man and would do anything for his kids.”
The Whitsunday SES posted its own tribute, saying Graeme Thomson would be missed on so many levels.
"The Whitsunday SES family is shattered tonight, we have lost a great mate," the organisation wrote.
"So hard to believe that his smile, his mad humour, and endless positive energy is no longer with us.
"He turned the Airlie Beach Group into a active, fully functional team that felt very much like a family."
Post-mortem examinations on the three bodies, which had been removed from the scene, were due to be done on Wednesday.
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