Cleaner is charged with stealing paintings worth $160,000 from home where artist burned to death after becoming trapped in his studio during fierce blaze
- Patrick Carroll, 69, died after fire engulfed the building he was in on October 20
- A contracted cleaner is alleged to have stolen 87 of Mr Carroll's valued artwork
- Police seized the artwork valued at more than $160,000 after search warrant
- The 50-year-old cleaner is due to appear in Wyong Local Court on Tuesday
Beloved local artist Patrick Carroll, 69, died after the building he was in was engulfed in flames
A man who was hired to clean up the damage after a fire killed a popular artist has been charged with stealing $160,000 worth of the dead man's paintings.
Patrick Carroll, 69, was trapped inside the first floor of Ebbtide Mall in The Entrance on the NSW Central Coast when the building was engulfed in flames on October 20.
After emergency services put out the blaze, the building owners hired contractors to help clean up the mess.
Officers from Strike Force Zorianna were investigating the fire and they noticed that 87 of Mr Carroll's valuable artworks were missing.
Following enquiries, officers searched an apartment in Maitland on May 14 and allegedly seized 87 of Mr Carroll's artwork valued at more than $160,000.
Police also allegedly seized an air rifle, a pen gun, an electronic stun device, ammunition and prohibited drugs.
Mr Carroll was trapped inside the first floor of Ebbtide Mall in The Entrance on the NSW Central Coast when the building was engulfed in flames on October 20
Following enquiries, officers searched an apartment in Maitland on May 14 and allegedly seized 87 of Mr Carroll's artwork (pictured) valued at more than $160,000
They arrested the 50-year-old worker and took him to Wyong Police Station where he was charged with 10 offences.
The valuable artwork has since been returned to Mr Carroll's heartbroken family.
When the fire engulfed the building Mr Carroll was in, he couldn't escape from the windows which were covered by metal security screens.
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Rescuers pulled Mr Carroll unconscious from the building but he wasn't able to be revived.
A 13-year-old boy was charged with manslaughter after allegedly starting the fire which killed Mr Carroll.
The cleaner is due to appear in Wyong Local Court on Tuesday.
A 13-year-old boy was charged with manslaughter after allegedly starting the fire which killed Mr Carroll
