Deaths, tragedies and heartbreaks that rocked Qld in 2025

These are the true stories of 15 everyday Queenslanders who never met but will forever be connected through tragedy and heartbreak.

8 min read

June 12, 2025 - 6:54AM

These are the faces of everyday Queenslanders forever connected by tragedy.

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Queensland has experienced a string a of heartbreaking tragedies in 2025.

From the death of a young motocross rider to the passing of a couple at a waterfall, we have seen a range of devastation.

Dad’s act of selflessness after daughter’s death

Charlize Zmuda.

The parents of a teenage girl fatally bitten by a shark off a popular beach at Bribie Island have paid an emotional tribute to their “shining light”, as onlookers told of their shock when the horror incident unfolded.

Charlize Zmuda, 17, was swimming off Woorim Beach when she was attacked by the shark on Monday, with the area busy with people at the time who witnessed the incident.

The teen was well known in the community and was a member of the Bribie Island Surf Life Saving Club and is believed to have been with friends when the incident occurred.

Charlize’s father Steven Zmuda said he wanted beach goers to “feel confident and safe in the water”.

Tayla Spies.

Tayla Spies, a 29-year-old mother of three from Roma was reported missing on February 2.

She was last seen in Dalby, about 200km west of Brisbane, after leaving a hotel and stopping at a service station in Condamine.

Instead of returning home, she drove south toward the NSW border, prompting a widespread search across a 9000sq/m area.

On April 3, her white 2017 Toyota HiLux was discovered locked on a remote property off Yuleba-Surat Road in Noorindoo, about 40km northeast of Surat.

Inside the vehicle were her personal belongings, including a pink shirt she was last seen wearing.

The following day, human remains were found approximately 1km from the vehicle. Forensic testing later confirmed the remains belonged to Tayla Spies.

Her sister, Rebecca Spies, announced the heartbreaking news on social media, expressing deep sorrow and gratitude for the community’s support during the 63-day search.

Police continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding her disappearance.

Sophia Rose.

Sophia Rose, a three-year-old girl from Moore Park Beach near Bundaberg, tragically lost her life on May 26, 2025.

Her mother, 32-year-old Lauren Ingrid Flanigan, was arrested at the scene and charged with her daughter’s murder.

Sophia was found with multiple stab wounds in the front yard of their home and was pronounced dead despite emergency responders’ efforts.

At the time of the incident, two younger siblings, aged one and two, were present in the home but were unharmed.

After her arrest, Flanigan was held at Brisbane Women’s Correctional Centre. On May 30, she was found unresponsive in her cell and was transported to Princess Alexandra Hospital, where she died on June 1.

A coroner’s investigation is underway to examine the circumstances surrounding her death.

Sophia was remembered by her father as having a “huge heart” and being the “light of his life”.

Chris Vrbesic died at the scene of the crash.

Chris Vrbesic, a 37-year-old father from Manly West, Brisbane, tragically lost his life alongside his four-year-old son, Julian, in a car accident on Australia Day, January 26, 2025.

The collision occurred just before 9am at the intersection of Rickertt Road and Chelsea Road in Ransome.

Chris was driving his blue Holden Commodore VK Brock sedan when it collided with a red Mitsubishi Lancer. He died at the scene, while Julian was transported to Queensland Children’s Hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries.

The driver of the Mitsubishi, a 29-year-old man from Birkdale, sustained minor injuries. The Queensland Police Forensic Crash Unit is investigating the circumstances of the crash.

Chris Vrbesic was a project manager at Innate Developments, specialising in residential and commercial construction. He was also an active member of Brisbane’s car enthusiast community, regularly attending events such as “Cars and Coffee” at Café Elle. Friends and community members have remembered him as a “genuine, stand-up guy” and a “wonderful father.”

A floral tribute is left by community members. Picture: Kevin Farmer

On May 7 a devastating house fire occurred in Harristown, Toowoomba resulting in the deaths of three children.

Ellouisa Patricia Brighton, also known as Ellouisa Brighton Gibson, aged 36, has been charged with three counts of murder, three counts of attempted murder, and one count of arson in connection with the incident.

Emergency services responded to the blaze around 12:30am. A nine-year-old boy was found deceased at the scene, while two girls, aged four and seven, succumbed to their injuries in the hospital.

Three others — a 34-year-old man, an 18-year-old man, and an 11-year-old boy — escaped the fire with injuries ranging from minor to serious.

Police allege that the fire was deliberately lit and are not seeking any other suspects. Ellouisa Brighton remains hospitalised in critical condition under police guard. A full brief of evidence is expected by July 21, with the next court mention scheduled for August 19 in Toowoomba.

Pheobe Bishop.

Seventeen-year-old Pheobe Bishop from Gin Gin was reported missing on May 15 after failing to board a scheduled flight from Bundaberg to Perth to visit her boyfriend.

Police determined that she never made it to the airport.

Pheobe had been living with two housemates, James Wood, 34, and Tanika Bromley, 33, in a rented home in Gin Gin.

On June 5, Wood and Bromley were arrested and each charged with one count each of murder and two counts of interfering with a corpse.

The following day, human remains believed to be Pheobe’s were found in bushland near Good Night Scrub National Park, around 9km from the initial search site.

Kay McGrath with fiance Richard Moore. Picture: Instagram

A trip of a lifetime turned to terrible tragedy for much-loved TV personality Kay McGrath in February.

The 68-year-old McGrath was on a tour through India when her fiance Richard Moore suffered a heart attack and died.

His death left McGrath – one of Queensland’s most respected journalists as well as a long-term child protection advocate – heartbroken.

Announcing the devastating news on Instagram on Saturday, she said: “My darling fiance and soulmate Richard has passed away after suffering a sudden and totally unexpected heart attack in Agra, India,” she wrote.

Beau Liddell and Honor Ward.

A 17-year-old boy who died trying to save a teenage girl below a raging waterfall was in January hailed for his heroic efforts.

Police said emergency services initially responded to reports a 17-year-old girl, Honor Ward, of the Sunshine Coast fell off a waterfall at Wappa Falls near Yandina and failed to resurface about 2.30pm on Sunday, January 19.

Beau Liddell, 17, also from the Sunshine Coast, jumped into the water to find the girl, and also failed to resurface.

Around 3.30pm the missing girl was found dead in the water, by emergency services.

Beau’s body was also found in the water by police divers at 7.25pm.

Slater Pearce.

Shattered parents in March said their children were “broken” and “devastated” after the tragic loss of their teacher Slater Pearce in a catastrophic car crash.

The 22-year-old, who taught at St Patrick’s College at Mackay – the same school he had attended before graduating and going to university – died after he was pulled from the wreckage of a classic car.

His shock passing has triggered an outpouring of grief in Mackay where his respected family lives and a fundraiser was set up to help with funeral costs.

In a letter provided to the St Patrick’s College community in Mackay, where Mr Slater had also graduated as a student in 2019, Principal Janelle Agius said he was a “valued member” of the school community.

James Paul and Krystel Paul.

Neighbours in May described the tragic moment a nine-year-old girl came to their home and told them her dad had shot her mum, in a suspected murder-suicide that sent shockwaves across Far North Queensland.

Police and emergency services crews were called to a Verbena Drive, Mount Sheridan address about 7.15pm on May 27 to conduct a welfare check.

When they arrived, police officers found the owners of the home, Krystel and James Paul, both 41, dead inside.

Mount Sheridan resident Danna Lancini said the couple’s nine-year-old daughter fled to her house.

“I had to comfort her last night because she told me that her mum was dead,” Ms Lancini said.

Bridie Hennessy.

The mother of a 14-year-old girl who took her own life in March called on parents and schools to do more about the alarming way children discuss mental illness as “cool”.

Chelsea Ramaekers said her daughter Bridie Hennessy, who had struggled with mental health problems, tragically died by suicide on March 11.

Ms Ramaekers described the Hervey Bay State High School student as a “beautiful” young girl with incredible talent as a musician.

“She was so beautiful, just so talented, and she was so smart. She was an amazing sister, especially to her little sisters,” Ms Ramaekers said.

Ashley Hicks.

In January, 45-year-old Ashley Jay Hicks tragically drowned in Beardmore Dam near St George.

On Sunday, January 12, he reportedly jumped off the dam wall and failed to resurface, prompting an extensive search involving police, SES volunteers, swift water rescue crews, and aerial teams.

His body was recovered early Tuesday morning, January 14, just south of the dam wall.

Mr Hicks was the son of Balonne Shire councillor Robyn Fuhrmeister. She expressed gratitude to the emergency services and community members who assisted in the search, noting that her son was an experienced swimmer who chose the dam over the river near her home due to jet ski activity.

SunWater reported that the dam was at 104.5% capacity at the time, with strong water releases contributing to hazardous conditions.

Kara Jade Weribone. Picture: Social Media

In February 27-year-old Kara Jade Weribone from Wilsonton was tragically shot and killed in North Toowoomba.

The incident occurred around 1.50pm, near the intersection of Christmas and West streets, close to Holy Name Catholic Primary School.

Emergency services found Weribone on the footpath with multiple gunshot wounds. She was taken to Toowoomba Hospital but died shortly after arrival.

The shooting took place during school pick-up time, prompting authorities to lock down several nearby streets and advise residents to remain indoors.

Acting Detective Inspector Brian Collins described the incident as “extremely alarming” due to its proximity to a school and the time of day.

Initially, three individuals present at the scene were taken into custody for questioning but were later released without charge.

On March 1, a 29-year-old man was arrested in Roma and charged with murder with reckless indifference in connection to Miss Weribone’s death.

The investigation remains ongoing.

Michaela Hurt and Joel Evans. Picture: Instagram

Hundreds of mourners in May ignored the rain to say goodbye to beloved motocross rider Joel Evans following his devastating death while racing in South Australia in April.

More than 400 family, friends, and community members crowded the Kingaroy Town Hall early Wednesday afternoon for a “celebration of life” for Mr Evans, who lived in the regional Queensland town in the South Burnett.

Music by The Pogues and Tom DeLonge played while the crowd quickly filled the hall, with people lining up along the sides of the room and spilling out of the foyer.

For two hours, the community gathered to remember the 30-year-old, whose love of motocross was so deep it became a family passion.

Mr Evans, 30, was killed while competing at the 2025 ProMX Championship at Gilman in South Australia on Sunday, April 27.

Leannedra Kang, 24, and Takahiro Toya, 26.

Two bodies, believed to be those of two Queensland tourists who vanished in North Hobart three days earlier, were in June found near a crashed vehicle in Tasmania’s northeast.

Leannedra Kang and Takahiro Toya had been holidaying in the St Helens and Scamander area and were last seen on June 3 after leaving accommodation in North Hobart.

They had planned to visit Richmond, Ross, Bicheno, Bay of Fires, and Mole Creek before flying home to Brisbane the next day.

But the pair never boarded their flight on June 4 or returned their rental car.

Originally published as Deaths, tragedies and heartbreaks that rocked Qld in 2025