Bogie triple murder case: Accused held sovereign citizen beliefs

The Queensland man accused of the execution-style killing of three neighbours allegedly was in a relationship with his quasi stepmum and also held sovereign citizen beliefs, it can be revealed.

An accused triple murderer, who is charged with shooting three neighbours execution-style at a remote Queensland cattle property, allegedly held sovereign citizen beliefs and was in a relationship with his quasi stepmum.

And in the wake of the tragedy, community members are still fearful and questioning “how safe is the area”.

Police tape sealed off Shannonvale Rd about 3km from the crime scene where Mervyn and Maree Schwarz along with Graham Tighe were shot and killed, and Graham’s brother Ross Tighe was wounded at Bogie.

It is understood signs at Darryl Young’s Bogie property, where it is alleged Mervyn, 71, and Maree, 59, Schwarz and Maree’s son Graham Tighe, 35, were gunned down at close range following a dispute over borderlines and unbranded cattle, included sovereign citizen ideology.

It is understood a sign at the front gate of Young’s Shannonvale property, where the alleged murders occurred early on August 4, 2022 warned people, including law enforcement, over attempting to set foot on the property.

Police allege Mr Young invited the family, who had purchased a neighbouring property on Sutherland Rd in early 2021, for a chat the morning of the incident.

A sign on triple murder-accused Darryl Young’s property outside Bowen.

A sign on Mr Young’s West Euri Rd property also features sovereign citizen ideology including a no trespassing order for “all men, women, persons and entities including police/government/sheriff/bailiff/process server/council/private investigators/corporations”.

It reads trespass damages shall apply to anyone who steps on the property without permission at a minimum of $10,000.

In short, a sovereign citizen is someone who believes the law does not apply to them.

Mr Young, 59, was arrested about 12 hours after the alleged execution-style killings and taken into police custody along with four others – two were Epuron wind farmer contractors who had been working near the property.

Darryl Valroy Young is charged with three counts of murder and attempted murder. His case will next be mentioned in Bowen Magistrates Court in November.

The other two were Mr Young’s son and his late father’s partner, with whom it is understood he had since begun a relationship.

Everyone excluding Mr Young was released – he will be the only person charged over the incident, which also resulted in Maree’s other son Ross Tighe suffering critical injuries as he allegedly fled for his life.

Mr Tighe allegedly told police he saw his family members gunned down and was forced to run and hide in bushes as shots continued to ring out before reaching a farm ute and driving about 40km to a neighbouring homestead to raise the alarm.

RACQ CQ Rescue flew a trauma team, who delivered blood and brought Mr Tighe to Mackay Base Hospital where he underwent lifesaving surgery.

Bogie community members are still in shock in the wake of the tragedy and some continue to question their safety.

“We’re just wondering how safe you really are,” one member said.

“How safe is the area?”

Bogie shooting victims Maree and Mervyn Schwarz had purchased their Sutherland Rd property in 2021. Picture Supplied

Earlier this week, police conducted an expansive investigator search of the Shannonvale Rd property using a large number of SES volunteers and newly recruited officers from Townsville.

It is understood there is more than 12 hunting dogs on the property, which police have since handed back.

Shannonvale is a 7740 hectare perpetual pastoral leasehold on the Crown land block, which Mr Young purchased in 2012 for $625,000.

At its most recent valuation date in December 2021, the suggested worth on an Australian property website was $510,000.

The lease in perpetuity began on July 1, 1982 and is purposed for grazing or agricultural.

It is commonly believed perpetual leases extend for 99 years, which would potentially mean there is still 59 years left on Mr Young’s contract.

Mr Young also allegedly shot Graham Tighe – the son of Maree Schwarz, dead.

The conditions include “during the whole term of the (lease) maintain the parts of the holding in which trees were previously destroyed in the improvement of the land free from all suckers and undergrowth as well as all seedling growth in respect of which a permit to destroy is not required”.

Another condition is “the lessee shall, during the whole term of the lease, maintain all improvements on the holding existing at the commencement thereof in a good and substantial state of repair”.

A Department of Resources spokeswoman said pastoral leases were state-leased land for pastoral and/or agricultural purposes.

“Leases can be for a fixed term, rolling term or perpetual,” she said.

“The department would only consider compliance action against a lessee where they were failing to meet the conditions of their lease, for example, not paying their annual rental.”