Teens charged with Sunshine Coast murder after police tracked phones

Police have revealed they tracked two teenage boys, aged 15 and 17, about 100 kilometres before the pair were arrested over the alleged murder of Sunshine Coast man Zdravko Bilic.

Bilic was found dead in the front yard of his multimillion-dollar home at Warana, which he shared with his wife, successful skincare businesswoman Gry Tomte, about 7.35pm on Monday.

Police have investigated the possibility the attack might have occurred as early as 11pm on Sunday, about 20 hours before the body was found.

A 15-year-old boy from West Woombye was arrested in Chermside on Wednesday night, Sunshine Coast Detective Inspector Chris Toohey told media on Thursday.

The other teenager, a 17-year-old boy from Beerwah, was arrested as he got off a bus in Toowoomba.

“A number of strategies occurred for us to locate the boys, including following phone evidence and knowledge of where they were going to be and what plans they had,” Toohey said.

“The 17-year-old youth caught a bus from Brisbane to Toowoomba and was arrested as he disembarked the bus.”

Zdravko Bilic with his wife Gry Susann Tomte.Credit: Zdravko Bilic

Toohey said evidence had been recovered at Bilic’s Warana home, including a set of Bilic’s keys on the driveway.

Police said a disturbance happened at the home, with Bilic receiving two fatal stab wounds.

The teens are also accused of a string of break-ins on the Sunshine Coast and Brisbane, including one on Saturday night, and one earlier on the same night that Bilic was stabbed.

Tomte, the founder of skincare brand HÜD Skin + Body, was away at the time Bilic was killed, and reportedly had asked a neighbour to scope out her home after not hearing from him for some time.

In a statement released by police on Thursday afternoon, she said her husband was “my entire world for 28 years” and that his loss left an “unbearable” void.

“He was the kind of friend who would drop everything to help anyone,” Tomte said.

Sunshine Coast Detective Inspector Chris Toohey provides an update on the alleged murder of Zdravko Bilic.Credit: Catherine Strohfeldt

“Even if you weren’t his friend, if he saw you on the street he’d smile, have a chat – and if you needed help he’d treat you the same way.

“He was the kind of man who on several occasions would quickly detour when we saw a lost dog – whether on a bike or in a car – and without hesitation footy tackle them to stop them in their tracks to make sure we could get them home safely to their families.

“He was loved by more people that I can put into words.”

Toohey also paid tribute to Bilic, “a strong member of the Warana community” and greater Sunshine Coast district.

Flowers placed outside the home of Zdravko Bilic, where he was found dead on Monday.Credit: Catherine Strohfeldt

“Mr Bilic is a proud member of the community through his links with coaching soccer, as well as the employment he had in childcare centres,” Toohey said.

“The Warana community is a really tight community, they visit each other’s houses, they have Christmas party, street parties, they really are shocked. He will be well missed.”

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