CRABTREE HOME WAS DESTROYED IN BLAZE
A “FIERCE” unexplained fire 14 years ago destroyed the Sydney home of the Gold Coast mother charged with killing two of her adult children for insurance payouts.
NSW police confirmed yesterday the state’s homicide squad had provided help in the case to Queensland investigators, who launched a broad appeal for anyone in NSW who knew Maree Mavis Crabtree or her family from their time in the state to come forward.
Crabtree, 51, was charged on Wednesday with the murders of her daughter Erin, 18, and son Jonathan, 26. She has also been charged with the torture and grievous bodily harm of a 25-year-old relative.
Neighbours yesterday remembered Crabtree as “different” but someone who appeared to “love her children” during the time she lived in suburban Peakhurst.
Residents said there was a “fierce” fire at the house which made it “unliveable” before Crabtree and her children left.
Neighbour Terry Fitzgibbon said he rushed to the house during the fire as he feared Crabtree’s mother was inside.
“She wasn’t there and by this time the fire was starting to take control so we had to get out,” he said.
“The place ended up getting pulled down because it wasn’t liveable.”
Crabtree’s lawyer Emily Lewsy has said she will “vigorously defend the charges”.
ALLEGED child killer Maree Crabtree returned to Brisbane from a holiday cruise three days after hearing her 18-yearold daughter had died on the Gold Coast, a fellow passenger said.
A Victorian woman, who asked only to be identified as Kath, spoke exclusively to the Gold Coast Bulletin about meeting Maree and Jonathan Crabtree on a P & O Cruise of the Pacific Islands in September 2012.
“We were in the cabin next door to them and got quite friendly. We were there when they got the call to say Erin had passed away,” Kath said.
“Maree said she had an epileptic fit, hit her head and choked on her vomit. She told a lot of people that.”
Kath said the Crabtrees were informed of Erin’s passing before the boat reached its first stop – Noumea.
“It was on the first or second day that she (Maree) got the call to say she (Erin) passed away but they couldn’t get off the ship,” she said.
“We were trying to get them home and people collected a substantial amount of money to help. We were just out in the middle of the ocean and they were desperate to go, so people were just opening their hearts to them. It was just tragic.
“It wasn’t until we got to Vanuatu that they went home and that was about five or six days in.”
Sources said the all-expenses-paid cruise was gifted to the family by a national charity but was intended for Maree Crabtree’s 18-year-old daughter Erin.
Erin was found dead at Plantation Cres, Maudsland around September 4, when her mother and brother were on the cruise.
“Maree told me Erin hadn’t come because she watched (the film) Titanic a night earlier and was too scared,” Kath said.
Maree Crabtree was on Wednesday charged with
MAREE TOLD ME ERIN HADN’T COME BECAUSE SHE WATCHED (THE FILM) TITANIC A NIGHT EARLIER AND WAS TOO SCARED. FELLOW CRUISE PASSENGER KATH
Erin’s murder, allegedly giving her an overdose of drugs before boarding the boat.
Kath said after the family returned to Queensland she visited them, bringing groceries to Maree Crabtree’s Gold Coast home.
“I gave them a substantial amount of money, about $3000. It was just the fact she was desperate and struggling with these kids,” she explained.
Later in September 2012, another woman, Sandra Duffin, posted on a Facebook group for cruise holiday-makers to thank those who donated money to the family after Erin’s death.
“Well to all those beautiful people on the W232 cruise that donated money for Marre (sic) Crabtree, I would like 2 (sic) thank them for there (sic) kind generosity as I raised $800…,” Ms Duffin wrote.
“… Was so proud when I gave it 2 (sic) Maree & I’m dam (sic) sure if people knew where I was & how to get (hold) of me that I would of raise more money to help toward Erin Crabtree’s funeral, but thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
About 10 days later, Ms Duffin posted to tell the group she had attended a memorial service for Erin to “help support” the family.
“Maree was so happy with the turn up of over 60 people but thought there might of
(been) a few more that said they were going to come but didn’t arrive …
“I just hope Maree & family can now move on & still keep a special place in their hearts for there (sic) beloved Erin.”
In January 2013, another cruise holiday Facebook group member posted she was “excited” at the possibility of going on another cruise with the Crabtrees that year.
Kath said a female relative, who had been in Maree Crabtree’s care, and cannot be named for legal reasons, was on the 2012 boat trip with the mother and son.
The group also brought their dog, Tinkerbell the chihuahua, who sources say Maree Crabtree said was an assistance dog.
“She said (the girl) had leukaemia and at times was feeding her through a tube on the boat. They also had the dog there so who was I to doubt whether the girl was terminal?” Kath said.
That same woman, now 25, is now in the care of the State Government’s Office of the Adult Guardian.
Maree Crabtree is alleged to have subjected the female relative to prolonged torture and grievous bodily harm between November 2010 and July 2017.
Kath stayed in touch with Maree Crabtree via Facebook for several years, she said.
“I saw they had gone to the US and Hawaii. She’d said they were going there for treatment for (the relative),” she said.
“She never said how Jonathan died but would always take people’s sympathy.
“I’d always get in touch around Christmas and say: ‘I hope you’re coping OK’ and she’d say: ‘Times are tough’.
“The day before Jonathan passed away he posted (online) that his head was hurting.”
Jonathan was found at the family home in Fig Tree Court, Upper Coomera around July last year, allegedly leaving a suicide note.
Maree Crabtree was on Wednesday charged with his murder, which police allege occurred around July 18.
Police will also allege Maree Crabtree financially benefited from the children’s deaths by fraudulently receiving more than $500,000 in insurance payments between 2011 and 2013.
She has been charged with two counts of fraud, two counts of attempted fraud and the armed robbery of a Southport chemist in March 2015.
Crabtree’s lawyer on Wednesday indicated the mother would be contesting the charges.