Queensland mother accused of murdering adult children previously thought to be suicides

A Queensland mother has been charged with murdering two of her adult children after an investigation into the deaths, which were previously thought to be suicides.

Maree Mavis Crabtree, left, is charged with murdering her two adult children.

A Gold Coast mother has been charged with murdering two of her children and gaining financial benefit from their insurance payouts.

She is also accused of torturing another family member between 2010 and 2017.

Maree Mavis Crabtree, 51, was arrested in Coorparoo this morning after an extensive police investigation — involving Gold Coast detectives and the homicide squad — into the death of her daughter, 18, and son, 26, The Australian can reveal.

The two deaths, which had previously been put down to being suicides, occurred years apart on the Gold Coast.

Ms Crabtree, who is due to appear in front of magistrate this afternoon, is charged with two counts of murder, two of fraud, two of attempted fraud, one of torture and armed robbery.

She had been living in Brisbane during the investigation and is currently in the Brisbane watch-house.

Documents filed in court today show police will allege that in September 2012, Ms Crabtree murdered her 18-year-old daughter Erin Crabtree in Maudsland.

Then, in July 2017, she allegedly murdered her 26-year-old son Jonathan Crabtree at Upper Coomera.

Gold Coast Homicide Investigation Unit detectives alleged that between March 2011 and August 2013 Ms Crabtree “dishonestly gained a benefit for herself” by fraudulently receiving $567,863 from an insurance payment.

She then allegedly attempted to receive $125,000 from a Sunsuper Superannuation Death Benefit Policy and $238,000 from a Total Permanent Disability Claim.

Ms Crabtree was also charged with the armed robbery of a Southport Chemist on March 29, 2015.

Detective Inspector Mark Thompson said the investigation had been complex.

“That is why we are appealing for anyone who may have any information that could assist with the investigation,” Det Insp Thompson said.

“Any piece of information, no matter how small can have a significant impact on our investigation.”

Her daughter and son allegedly had long term physical and mental illnesses, The Australian can reveal.

It will be alleged the Ms Crabtree had been administering scripted medication to them over a period of time, contributing to their condition.

She benefited financially from the illnesses of her children, it will be alleged.

Her daughter died first, with the death going to a coroner. Police at the time accepted it was a suicide.

Police will now allege that rather than being a case of self harm, Ms Crabtree gave her daughter an overdose of drugs before taking the rest of the family on a cruise.

A family friend discovered her body.

Her son had been involved in a car accident and is known to have had an addiction to painkillers.

When he died in July last year a suicide note was found, but police will allege the mother prepared the note.

Ms Crabtree has a surviving daughter who was also suffering a serious illness.

It is understood that after police started investigating the two deaths the surviving daughter was taken away from her mother and staged a major physical recovery.

Queensland Police today issued a brief statement about the arrest.

“Detectives from the Gold Coast Criminal Investigation Branch with assistance from the Homicide Investigation Unit have arrested a woman in connection to the suspected suspicious deaths of an 18-year-old woman and 26-year-old man,” the statement reads.

“The alleged deaths occurred between September 2012 and July last year.”

In a new statement this afternoon, police confirmed the woman had been charged with two counts of murder and other offences.

“It is alleged that around September 4, 2012 the body of a deceased 18-year-old woman was located at a Plantation Crescent address in Maudsland,” the statement says.

“Around July 18, last year it is alleged the body of a deceased 26-year-old man was located at a Fig Court, Upper Coomera address.

“It will be further alleged a 25-year-old woman was seriously assaulted on numerous occasions over several years.

“As a result of ongoing investigations, the 51-year-old Maudsland woman, known to all three alleged victims, was arrested this morning at Coorparoo address.”

Detective Inspector Mark Thompson said the investigation had been complex as some of the alleged incidents occurred across Australia.

“That is why we are appealing for anyone who may have any information that could assist with the investigation,” Detective Inspector Thompson said.

“Any piece of information, no matter how small can have a significant impact.”

Police were dedicated to supporting vulnerable people in the community and asked anyone who had concerns about the abuse or exploitation of persons with vulnerabilities to contact Crime Stoppers or Policelink.

The 51-year-old woman was charged with two counts of murder, one count each of torture and grievous bodily harm.

The woman has also been charged with two counts each of fraud and attempted fraud, and one count of robbery while armed.

She is expected to appear in the Brisbane Magistrates Court this afternoon.