Chris Puglia charged over murder of Queensland parents Frank and Loris

A couple murdered in their Queensland bed and breakfast died from “blunt force trauma”, allegedly at the hands of their son, police say.

Chris Puglia, left, has been charged with the murders of his parents Loris and Frank Puglia. Picture: Supplied

Loris Puglia had reason to celebrate Mother’s Day, writing online that she had received a touching gift box with a candle and bath bomb and that it was “priceless” to feel valued.

A week later, Mrs Puglia and her husband Frank, both 59, would be found dead at their popular Queensland bed and breakfast, allegedly brutally murdered by one of their sons.

A relative arriving for a prearranged get-together discovered the bodies of Mr and Mrs Puglia at their Serendipity Gardens B & B at Joyner, north of Brisbane, about 2pm Sunday.

It is understood the couple were found dead near each other in a living area of the single-storey house.

Police suspect a sledgehammer recovered from the scene may have been used to kill them.

Within hours of the grim discovery, NSW police acting on information from Queensland counterparts pulled over the couple’s 31-year-old son, Chris Puglia, on the M1 at Berowra, Sydney, 900km away.

Driving his father’s new Toyota RAV4, he was arrested without incident and charged with the double murder, appearing in Parramatta Local Court via video link on Monday. Queensland detectives were travelling to NSW to apply for his extradition.

Detective Superintendent Tony Fleming said Mr and Mrs Puglia died from “blunt force trauma” and were believed to have been killed on Saturday. Detectives were still investigating motive.

Chris Puglia will face court on Monday charged with double murder. Picture: Supplied

“We are very much interested to know why this has happened,” Superintendent Fleming said.

Police were aware of a disturbance at the property in March and neighbours had passed on useful information, he said.

There was nothing to show the attack was foreseeable and it was not a case of looking back in hindsight and asking “why wasn’t something done”, he said.

Police wanted to hear from anyone who could assist, “in particular anyone with any information regarding the relationship between Christopher Puglia and his parents”, or those with relevant CCTV and dashcam footage, Superintendent Fleming said.

Shocked relatives were co-operating with police and had asked for their privacy to be respected, he said.

Police have information the white 2020-model RAV4 was driven out of the couple’s property at 7pm Saturday. The vehicle may have spent Saturday night parked at Shillito St in Southport.

The accused is believed to have been living with his parents on and off after relocating from NSW.

Police have been told he may have lost his job due to the coronavirus pandemic, but that had not been confirmed.

As well as running the bed and breakfast from their home, Mrs Puglia was a Guide Dogs Queensland telemarketer and Mr Puglia worked in insurance.

They had bought the 6000 sqm property in Hazelmere Court for almost $800,000 in 2014. Their B & B was promoted as a bush retreat located in a koala corridor and attracted positive reviews.

In 2018, Mrs Puglia had wished son Chris a happy 30th birthday on Facebook, describing him as loved and admired.

“We love you unconditionally and congratulate you on your achievements to date and I know you will have many more,” the message says.

A week ago, she thanked her other son – fitness trainer James Puglia – and his wife Rachel for the Mother’s Day gift box, which had also included a face cream, mask and chocolates.

Tributes flowed for the couple online, with one friend saying Mrs Puglia “would have done anything for anyone”. Another said she was “such a light and helped so many”.

The Serendipity Gardens Facebook page had been active in the days leading up to the murders, sharing photos of items of homewares for sale.

Other posts shared on the page last week were of books about crystals and tarot card reading. The last post was on Saturday. The Joyner property was listed for sale in March last year, and the Puglias were subsequently interviewed for a newspaper real estate article.

“Every day I feel like we’ve escaped the hustle and bustle without going too far,” Mrs Puglia said at the time.