Storm chaser assisting police over friend’s death in house fire

A storm chaser is assisting police with their inquiries over the suspicious death of his friend in a Gold Coast house fire.

A storm chaser can be revealed as the man who is helping police with their inquiries over the suspicious death of his friend in a Gold Coast house fire.

Detectives are examining information including a recent Facebook post in which Glen Tipler, a tradie and keen storm chaser, complained to friends about a “f---ing narcissist dog in my life that thought they could try and use me again and get away with it”.

A man, 21, was found dead in Mr Tipler’s rented townhouse at Leichhardt St, Coomera, about 11pm on Wednesday by fire crews who had to don breathing apparatus because of thick smoke.

Police say Mr Tipler, 38, a self-employed roofer who regularly posts storm videos and photos on social media, later turned up at a work colleague’s property at Sheldon in Redlands, with significant burns.

“QAS (Queensland Ambulance Service) were called to that address and that person was subsequently taken into police custody,” said Acting Detective Inspector Mark Procter, of Coomera CIB.

“At this stage of the investigation, no-one has been charged. We have a male person assisting with inquiries and being treated for significant burns to his body.

“We’re treating it as a suspicious death.”

Insp Procter said both men were well known to each other and may have been in a relationship.

He said the men had not come to police attention and there was no record of any violence between them.

“They are certainly good friends and they’re seen in places together which could suggest that (a relationship) but we don’t know at this stage,” he said.

A social media post by Glen Tipler

A social media image of Glen Tipler

Detectives from the bikie-busting Taskforce Maxima were among police doorknocking surrounding homes but Insp Procter said there was no evidence “at all” of bikie or drug links.

He said police believed the victim, who lived elsewhere in Coomera, died in the fire and not beforehand.

Insp Procter said police were still working to establish a motive and appealed for anyone who may have seen Mr Tipler’s 2013 blue Holden Commodore utility leaving the scene around 10.50pm to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Police believe two men at the centre of investigations following a deadly house fire were ‘well known’ to each other and may have been in a relationship.

Glen Tipler’s 2013 Holden Commodore utility

Glen Tipler’s 2013 Holden Commodore utility

Earlier, it was reported a 21-year-old man was dead and another, 39, was in hospital with facial and limb burns after a suspicious fire on the Gold Coast overnight.

A crime scene was established after the 21-year-old’s body was found at a Leichhardt St, Coomera property about 11pm on Wednesday.

Coomera CIB Acting Detective Inspector Mark Procter said the victim, 21, and the other man, 39, were both ‘well known’ to each other and hinted they may have been in a relationship.

He said the 39-year-old lived at the Leichhardt St duplex while the 21-year-old, who was found dead in the living area, lived elsewhere in Coomera.

He said police were looking for anyone who may have seen a blue Holden Commodore leaving the address around the time of the incident.

“Anyone who noticed that Commodore acting suspiciously or driving erratically should contact police,” Det Insp Procter said.

Emergency services at the scene. Photo: Greg Stolz

He said the 39-year-old had ‘significant burns’ but police had been able to speak with him, adding the scene was ‘confronting’ for first responders.

“Burns are horrific – and he was severely burned,” he said.

Forensic crews worked through the night after emergency services were called to the double-storey brick property following calls about smoke coming from the house.

A Queensland Fire and Emergency Services spokeswoman said firefighters had to force their way into the building and found the fire on the second storey in the kitchen.

The fire was extinguished and QFES investigators were returning to the scene on Thursday morning.

Police are awaiting results of an autopsy to determine the cause of death and confirm the man’s identity.

Forensic officers search the scene. Photo: Greg Stolz

The 39-year-old man is assisting police with inquiries while being treated for non-life threatening injuries at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital.

He was located at a Pioneer Road, Sheldon address a short time after the Coomera incident and was transported to hospital for treatment with police in attendance.

Neighbours said police told them the dead man had arrived home in an Uber about 10pm.

“We were just sitting watching TV and saw the flashing lights (from emergency crews ... we didn’t even see or smell the fire,” one neighbour said.

Officers at the taped off scene. Photo: Greg Stolz

He said police had asked for dashcam footage from his vehicle but it showed nothing.

He said two men, which he estimated to be aged in their mid 30s, had lived in the duplex where the fire happened for about 12 months.

Another neighbour, Jasmine Garland, said the incident was ‘full on’.

“It’s pretty close to home ... it’s quite a shock really,” she said.

“It’s a very quiet neighbourhood. Nothing like this was ever expected to happen really.”

Ms Garland said she walked her baby around the neighbourhood but did not know people who lived in the duplex where the fire occurred.

Another neighbour said heard sirens and saw fire crews arrive and firemen run into the house.

“It was pretty hectic,” she said.

Investigations are ongoing.