Haley Allison’s family outraged after murderer Jason Spina’s parole

The family of a woman horrifically murdered and set on fire by Jason Michael Spina are continuing their fight over transparency after not being told Spina was granted parole, and then allowed to move to Gympie.

The family of Hayley Allison, who was horrifically murdered by her ex-husband, Jason Michael Spina, are continuing their fight for transparency after Spina was granted parole and then allowed to move to Gympie.

The family of a woman horrifically murdered by her ex-husband, Jason Michael Spina, are continuing their fight for transparency after not being told Spina was granted parole, and then allowed to move to Gympie.

Laura Topfer labelled the system in place for victims and their families “a joke” after finding out the violent offender had been released on parole.

Spina was jailed in 2011 after being found guilty of murdering his ex-wife Haley Allison, Ms Topfer’s niece, by strangling her, stabbing her, and then setting her on fire at her Caboolture home in December 2009.

A jury delivered its verdict after almost a week of deliberations.

Justice Peter Applegarth said at the sentencing Spina had “brutally murdered” his wife who “sustained horrendous injuries”, and sentenced him to life imprisonment.

In May 2025, 15 years later, Mrs Allison’s family were left outraged and called for systemic change when they were not notified Spina had been released on parole in April.

The family of Haley Allison (mother Shelley pictured), who was horrifically murdered by her ex-husband Jason Michael Spina, continue their fight over transparency after not being told Spina was granted parole, and then allowed to move to Gympie. Photo Steve Pohlner

He had served 15 years of his 25 year sentence.

Mrs Allison’s mother Shelley Allison said in May the family had been left to hear about Spina’s release “through the grapevine”.

The family had not signed up to, or been prompted to join, the state’s victim’s register which was created five years after her daughter’s death.

A Queensland Correctional Services spokeswoman said it was “committed to ensuring victims of crime are supported and have a voice through the Victims Register”.

“All eligible people are strongly encouraged to register to ensure they are kept informed,” the spokeswoman said.

“Registered victims are kept up-to-date and provided a range of information about the prisoners they are registered against, including outcomes of parole applications and release dates.

“QCS is providing all the support it can to the family of Haley Allison at this time.”

Haley Allison when she was a little girl.

On Thursday, Ms Laura Topfer took to Facebook and shared information about Spina’s whereabouts.

Mrs Topfer said in the social media post she wanted to warn people in the region.

She has since deleted the post after an account mocked Mrs Allison’s death.

In one post the account responded to a question of how Spina killed Mrs Allison by saying “like a(sic) absolute mad c--t” followed by a love heart emoji.

Another post made by the account under the post left several laughing emojis followed by “that’s my boy blue!!!”.

Laura Topfer has since deleted the post about Jason Michael Spina after an account mocked Mrs Allison’s death. In one post asking how Spina killed Mrs Allison, the account replied “like a(sic) absolute mad c--t” followed by a love heart emoji.

Mrs Topfer said the system in place for victims was “in its entirety is a joke”.

“From parole without our knowledge to letting him live in our area, to then sending him to the Southside then to Gympie.

“We have family and friends in every corner of this country, there’s nowhere he can go without someone knowing who he is.

“We haven’t even heard back from the parole board after submissions were made back in April from our families, to ask why we weren’t made aware of his early release.”

After hearing of Spina’s release Mrs Allison emailed the Queensland Parole Board with her concerns saying his face “haunts me and my family to this very day”.

Spina was jailed in 2011 after being found guilty of murdering his ex-wife Haley Allison (pictured), Ms Topfer’s niece, by strangling her, stabbing her, and then setting her on fire at her Caboolture home in December 2009.

“One can only imagine what may happen if one was to see him in the flesh, particularly with no prior knowledge of his release”, she wrote in her letter asking for the board to set aside its decision and recall Spina to prison.

“While I understand that Mr Spina’s family continues to love him despite his criminal past, the impact of his crimes on others is emotionally and psychologically damaging.

“To this day I and my husband remain medicated to simply cope on a day-to-day basis and my son has also been severely psychologically affected. I still wake in the night screaming from night terrors.”

She said despite these she was “unfortunately … not given the right, nor opportunity to challenge the parole board’s decision, which in any case is an injustice, particularly as my husband, my son, my family and I continue to mourn and grieve the loss of such a wonderful young woman, my daughter Haley Elizabeth Maureen Allison”.

She asked the board for a copy of its reasons to “understand how the parole board reached their decision” including the “risk factors considered”.

Mrs Topfer said the family had not yet received a response.

The board’s decision to release Spina has not yet been published on its website.

Legislative amendments made in 2012 changed the parole eligibility rules around prisoners sentenced to life.

Prior to the changes they became eligible to apply after serving 15 years.

The changes extended this to 20 years minimum, but were not applied retroactively to people already serving terms.

The Qld Parole Board has been contacted for comment.

In the wake of Mrs Allison’s comments in May, Corrective Services Minister Laura Gerber said the Parole Board’s contact with victims and their families would be part of an independent review announced by the LNP state government in December.

Originally published as Haley Allison’s family outraged after murderer Jason Spina’s parole