Collingwood Park couple did not die as result of house fire: Police

A couple whose bodies were found inside their family home west of Brisbane after it was gutted by fire at the weekend did not die as a result of the blaze, police have revealed.

Joe and Christine Stephan did not die as a result of the fire at their Collingwood Park home.

Joe and Christine Stephan did not die in the fire that engulfed their Collingwood Park home at the weekend, police have revealed.

The pair, who were located deceased inside their family home on Sunday morning were killed in an act of violence before the fire took hold of their Hannant St property, post-mortems have confirmed.

The intriguing revelation comes as police are still unable to rule third party involvement in, or out, of the investigation into the married couple’s suspicious deaths.

Queensland Police Service Acting Inspector Heath McQueen said the investigation, which is being headed by the Ipswich Criminal Investigation Branch and Queensland’s best homicide detectives, is complex.

A forensic police officer at the Collingwood Park home on Sunday. Picture: Richard Walker

“This is a complex investigation, in which all possible options as to the cause of their deaths, is being fully explored,” Acting Insp McQueen said.

“We have ruled nothing out at this stage.”

Insp McQueen said police however were confident the pair did not perish in the blaze.

“I am unable to go into details other than confirming their deaths are suspicious, and not contributable to the fire, with evidence of violence,” he said.

“Complex and detailed forensic examinations, as well as investigations and interviews by detectives will continue for some time and I do not anticipate being in a position to provide an update before the middle of next week, and this will be dependent upon the progress of the investigation.”

Joe and Christine Stephan were found inside the house, but police do not believe they did as a result of the blaze. Picture: Richard Walker

An Incident Centre has been established at Yamanto Police Station, while the investigation has been codenamed Operation Verdite.

The home remains a crime scene, and is expected to be the hive of police activity for the next several days, with Scenes of Crime and other forensic officers still examining the property for evidence.

Neighbours told The Courier-Mail on Thursday that there had been no indication of anything suspicious on the street in the lead up to the blaze.

Many neighbours said they were unaware there was a fire at the home until emergency services arrived.

Police on the scene in Hannant St after the fire. Picture: Richard Walker

It’s understood, however, the person who called triple-0 heard what was described as ‘banging’ coming from the home.

When emergency services arrived, the house was shrouded in smoke.

One Hannant St resident told of hearing police yell “is anybody in there?” as they approached the home.

Many neighbours said they were “shocked” to learn the news of Joe and Christine’s deaths, and said the couple were “very gentle,” and “kind people.”

The couple had lived at the home for about 20 years, where they had raised their two children, who are now both adults.