New information prompts reactivation of 1997 arson case
Trapped inside a garage alongside her husband and neighbour, Jennifer Lindroth died as a deliberately-lit fire raged through the Dandenong Ranges in 1997. Two decades later, fresh information has reinvigorated the hunt for the killer arsonist.
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Fresh hope has emerged in the hunt for a triple-killer bushfire arsonist who struck more than 20 years ago.
New information uncovered in recent months has prompted detectives to reactivate the investigation into the 1997 deaths of Graeme Lindroth, 26, his wife Jennifer, 24, and their neighbour Genevieve Erin, 50.
The three died trapped in the double-brick garage of the Lindroths’ Seabreeze Ave, Ferny Creek property, after Ms Erin had fled there to shelter.
A $1 million reward is in place to help catch whoever exploited a day of dire fire conditions.
Mrs Lindroth’s mother, Jacqui Bell, says she is certain people other than the arsonist knew what happened that day.
“That was really cold-blooded. It wasn’t just one fire,” she said.
The Herald Sun has been told the inquiry was recently moved from a cold case review status to the level of active investigation.
Arson and explosives squad investigators said there were “people of interest” who were now the subject of the rejuvenated investigation.
January 21, 1997, was a day of brutal fire conditions in the Dandenong Ranges.
Five fires were lit in 140 minutes, sweeping through bushland and ultimately destroying 42 homes.
The first was started at 10.20am in Fussell Rd, Montrose, followed 24 minutes later by one in Kalorama.
The arsonist lit another in Trigg Track, Dandenong, at 11am. At 12.30, a blaze broke out on an access track of Tobruk Ave in The Basin and another in Walbundry Ave, Ferntree Gully.
The Tobruk Ave outbreak swept through Ferny Creek, killing the Lindroths and Ms Erin.
Mrs Bell said in their last conversation her daughter told her it was getting dark and she wanted to leave.
“It was waiting for them to turn up on the doorstep,” she said. “It just roared up the mountain.”
Mrs Bell said her thoughts sometimes turned to whoever lit the fatal fire.
“I sometimes think, surely their conscience is ripping them apart,” she said.
“I don’t think they (Jennifer and Graeme) would want me to hate someone. It’s too late to hate. I just want to know.”
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Mrs Bell said the loss of Jennifer had left a huge hole in her life.
She said Jennifer was as much a friend as a daughter and dreamt of having children.
“Jenny would have been 47 now. She would have had a few children. We would have been a part of that,” Mrs Bell said.
Anyone able to help investigators can call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit the website www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.