Thorneside fire site a crime scene as police probe ‘unexplained’ moments

Homicide detectives are investigating the “unexplained” minutes before a ferocious house fire that claimed the lives of an eight-year-old girl and her babysitter.

Tributes left at the scene of the fatal fire at Thorneside. Picture: John Gass

Homicide detectives are investigating the “unexplained” minutes before a ferocious house fire that claimed the lives of an eight-year-old girl and her babysitter, sending a community southeast of Brisbane into shock.

The body of 31-year-old Stephanie Ryan was found in the upper level of a Thorneside townhouse yesterday after firefighters spent hours stabilising the burnt-out structure to allow police to enter.

Ms Ryan and her young charge, Raven Contini, died when fire ripped through the Bayside Court townhome in Redlands about 7am Sunday.

The blaze broke out when a family friend, who had been living at the house, left for only a few minutes to go to the shops.

South Brisbane District Child Protection Investigation Unit Detective Inspector Paul Dalton said there were unexplained circumstances in the fatal blaze.

Stephanie Ryan

Raven Contini

“In these circumstances that are unexplained, the QPS throws every resource we possibly can, whether that be investigators, specialist forensic investigators from the police or the fire service to determine a cause,” he said.

“There’s nothing to say that this fire is suspicious in any way, but we will treat it as though it is until we make a determination one way or the other.”

He said the man at the house, who had been living in the garage, had been “very cooperative” with investigators.

“At around the time of the blaze he was home,” Insp Dalton said.

“He has left for a short time and returned within minutes. He was going to go to the shops.”

Raven’s mother Chloe Rodgers-Falk and stepfather Matthew Rodgers-Falk were understood to have been in Ballina, northern NSW, at the time.

Insp Dalton said Raven’s parents had been offered support by police.

The burnt-out townhouse is a crime scene. Picture: Richard Walker

“The parents were spoken to yesterday afternoon, they are obviously devastated,” he said.

They were joined by a stream of family, friends and heartbroken locals who arrived at the house throughout Monday to lay teddies, cards and flowers in memory of the pair.

Handwritten messages included “we will miss you”, “always remember you” and “I’ll be praying for you each day”, with one including a small drawing of an angel.

Another read, “If you read this from heaven know we’ll remember you for as long as we live,” while another written in bright pink texta said, “We hope you had a good life.”

Teachers and students at Birkdale South State School, where Raven attended, were left reeling.

Principal Amanda Turnbull said Raven was a precious part of the school community.

“Staff and students adored her cheerfulness, friendly smiling face and imagination,” Ms Turnbull said.

Tributes left at the apartment complex. Picture: Tertius Pickard/NCA NewsWire

“Raven’s love for bright ribbons will forever set her apart and remind us each day of the precious gift she was to our school community.”

Family members, including her grandfather, also visited.

“She was cheeky, she was beautiful, she will be missed very much,” Raven’s grandfather said.

Ms Ryan’s grandmother, Thelma Cowell, also arrived at the street to pay her respects.

She said her “loveable” granddaughter, who worked for Repco in Alice Springs, had only been in Brisbane a few days.

Insp Dalton said an investigation centre had been set up and homicide detectives were assisting local detectives.

He said police wanted to speak to anyone with video footage.

Information to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or Policelink on 131 444.

Originally published as Thorneside fire site a crime scene as police probe ‘unexplained’ moments