New details emerge after two men found dead in Maroochydore unit complex
A more confronting picture is beginning to emerge after the bodies of two men were discovered inside a Sunshine Coast unit complex.
Police & Courts
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Nearly a week on mystery still surrounds the deaths of two men inside a Maroochydore complex as more details about the grim case emerge.
Detectives continue to investigate the deaths of a 65-year-old Maroochydore man and a 56-year-old Mountain Creek man after their bodies were discovered at a Kingsford Smith Pde unit complex following a welfare check on June 4.
Upon discovery of the men a crime scene was declared while police probed the circumstances of their deaths, which took place little more than a 10-minute walk from the local police station and a stone’s throw from the tourist hotspot Cotton Tree.
Confronting new details including that men may have been dead for up to a week in the public housing flat before they were found, unbeknown to their neighbours and friends, were revealed on Thursday.
Speaking to this publication, Detective Senior Sergeant Rob Lowry of the Maroochydore Criminal Investigation Branch said police had processed the crime scene and spoken to residents of the complex along with friends and family of the two men found.
Snr Sgt Lowry said the matter was still under investigation however police were not ruling out third-party involvement completely and were keeping an “open mind” despite no overt information indicating someone else was involved.
He said whatever occurred was contained to their unit only with no signs of forced entry but encouraged those with information to come forward to police.
The senior detective also said an autopsy had been completed however police were still awaiting a formal cause of death, with nothing outside of expectations identified after the postmortem results.
Detectives were also waiting on toxicology results and Snr Sgt Lowry would not be drawn on claims the men may have died as a result of a drug overdose.
He said police could not definitively pinpoint the exact time of death for both men but it was believed the men had been dead for at least five to seven days before they were found.
He said police would still be preparing a report for the Coroner.
The Department of Housing and Public Works were approached for comment about the men’s deaths but said they were not able to comment.
“As this matter is currently under investigation by QPS, it would be inappropriate to comment any further at this time,” a spokesman said.
“The department continues to work with police and provide support and referrals to impacted tenants.”
It’s understood that after the police investigation has finished, the vacant property will be refurbished and re-tenanted.
‘Loved the ocean’: Friends’ grief after bodies of two men found in unit
Shocked neighbours and friends have spoken out as police appeal for information about the deaths of two men whose bodies were found inside a Sunshine Coast unit complex.
Officers were initially called to the public housing complex on Kingsford Smith Parade at Maroochydore just after 11am on Friday and on Saturday a crime scene remained in place as investigations continued.
Police confirmed post-mortems on both bodies would take place on July 7.
Neighbours described the men as “reclusive”, saying they were rarely seen and known only by their first names.
One believed notes had been passed under the unit door as a form of a welfare check and that when there was no response for some time, police were alerted.
It’s understood the 65-year-old Maroochydore man lived at the complex while the 56-year-old Mountain Creek man was a regular visitor.
Speaking to this publication outside the complex, Jacob Amos said he’d known both men.
He was “good mates” with the “old school surfer” who had lived in the unit and described him as “kind” and someone who “wouldn’t hurt you”.
He said both men were drug users and he’d gone over to check on his friend on Saturday morning and “he wasn’t answering his door and now we know why”.
Neighbours of the complex said it was notorious for drug-related crime and social issues and the two men who lost their lives were living on the “rowdier side” of the building.
Another woman, who called out her own tribute of “God bless you” as she rode her bike past the unit complex, said the man who lived there had done so for about 15 years.
“He’s a good bloke”, she said.
She was shocked by his death and had been told “by a friend passing by” and said the last time he had been seen was about eight days ago.
She too said the man was heavily into surfing “back in the day”.
“His house was like something out of the movies”, she said, comparing its decor to like popular US TV show Hawaii 5-0.
“He was just a friendly spirit, loved the oceans”.
She said he was also popular with and known by members of the area’s homeless community.
Unfortunately, this meant there had been some unsavoury visitors to the unit over the years, too.
“He had a lot of riff raff there … in and out, in and out,” she said.
The units are opposite the Swans rugby union field and just a short stroll from the beach at Maroochydore where families, some pushing strollers, walked past and grabbed coffee from a nearby cafe.
Other who spoke to this publication outside the units on Saturday morning were still reeling and described feeling “really sad”.
One said homelessness and drug use were a big problem in the area with many sleeping rough just down the street.
A police tent has been set up at the back of the complex where forensic officers, some dressed in head-to-toe protective hear could be seen combing the area and carrying out bags in the morning before packing up but leaving the scene under police guard.
Emergency services were first called to the complex in relation to a welfare check.
After entering the unit, police found both men dead inside.
Investigators are appealing for anyone who may have relevant information or CCTV/dashcam vision to come forward.
Police believe there is no ongoing threat to the public and investigations are continuing.