By Josefine Ganko
A 50-year-old man has been charged with the murder of his elderly father after a fire destroyed their inner west home, as police reveal they feared an even worse outcome when the suspect went on the run armed with a machete.
Edward “Ted” Grantham, a retired pastor and music teacher, was found dead inside his Croydon home after the blaze erupted about 4am on Wednesday. Police believe an accelerant was used to start the fire.
Ted Grantham, pictured with his wife Anne who was not in the house at the time of the blaze.Credit: Facebook
The 80-year-old lived in the Irrara Street property with his wife Anne and their 50-year-old son Christopher. While Anne was not at home at the time of the blaze, having left at 1am, Christopher was unaccounted for.
Police will allege that at 4.20am, while emergency services were arriving on the scene to extinguish the blaze, Christopher threatened staff at a Haberfield service station with a machete before stealing cigarettes.
Police released an image of Christopher Grantham when they were searching for him.Credit: NSW Police
An extensive manhunt was launched to find the 50-year-old. He was located more than 15 hours later on a train in Woy Woy on the Central Coast, about 85 kilometres away from his home.
Police say they found a machete concealed in Christopher’s pants when he was arrested.
“I am very acutely aware that this could have been a lot worse. With him in possession of a machete, it terrifies me to think what he could have done if we had not intercepted him,” Superintendent Christine McDonald told a press conference at Burwood Police Station on Thursday morning.
Christopher was taken to Gosford police station about 7.40pm on Wednesday, with Burwood detectives travelling there to speak to him before he was charged with murder, destroying or damaging property with intent to endanger life – domestic violence related, and armed robbery.
He appeared before Gosford Local Court on Thursday, where he was refused bail. The matter was adjourned, and will return to Burwood Local Court on July 30.
McDonald said it took determination, teamwork and investigative skills to track the man down on the same day he allegedly committed a murder and an armed robbery.
Christopher Grantham was taken to Gosford police station on Wednesday night and charged with the murder of his 80-year-old father. Credit: NSW Police
“He was running away from us, and unfortunately, you can’t run away from us. We’ll catch you,” she said.
In 2011, Ted Grantham retired from a long career as a music teacher, mostly spent teaching at De La Salle College Ashfield, and a pastor, later taking up the role of organist at Annandale’s Hunter Baillie church.
The church’s moderator, the Reverend Danny Ford, told the Herald Ted was a “much-loved and valued member of the church and wider community”.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with family, friends and us all as we grieve at this difficult time.”
Edward “Ted” Grantham playing the organ at Annandale’s Hunter Baillie Memorial Presbyterian Church.Credit: Hunter Baillie Church
According to the church’s website, the Granthams had six children and 18 grandchildren. Ted had a lifelong passion for music; he composed two operas and held various degrees in music and theology. His wife, Anne, is also a retired teacher.
Superintendent McDonald said the impacts of the case would be felt “far and wide” because of Ted’s standing in the community.
“My thoughts go out to not only the immediate family, but the wider community, because I know from the text messages that I’ve received that this has had a rippling effect throughout our entire community,” she said.
Police return to the scene where Edward “Ted” Grantham was found dead after the house was destroyed in a fire on Wednesday.Credit: Kate Geraghty
Fire crews were called to the Croydon property just after 4am and found the house ablaze, with flames shooting through the roof.
Firefighters escalated the incident to a full emergency response, and six trucks from across the inner west and south-west arrived.
A crime scene was established on the quiet residential street, with the police forensics team later examining the site as officers door-knocked neighbours and spoke to possible witnesses.
A NSW Police forensic officer inside a burnt room of the Croydon house.Credit: Kate Geraghty
Superintendent McDonald said police were still working to understand why Anne Grantham left the property in the middle of the night.
“The elderly woman left the home at 1am so we know that the fire started at just around 4am so she left three hours before. The reason why she left is still unknown to us,” she said.
NSW Fire and Rescue Superintendent Adam Dewberry said the blaze spread quickly and crews were only able to enter the single-storey house from the rear. After firefighters conducted an initial search, the roof started to collapse, fanning the fire further and forcing crews to withdraw.
When the search resumed, Ted Grantham’s body was found inside the house. Police said a post-mortem will examine the cause of death.
NSW Fire and Rescue crews initially searched through the rubble for a second resident of the house, but later confirmed that there was only one casualty.
Superintendent McDonald confirmed police believed accelerant was used in the blaze.
“We have been liaising with Fire and Rescue New South Wales, and they have the capability to determine what was the cause of the start of the fire, and we believe accelerant was used and located.”
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