Son charged with own father’s murder after in fatal house fire in Sydney’s inner west

A son has been charged with the murder of his own dad in a horrific house fire in Sydney’s inner west, with police alleging an accelerant was used before the blaze.

A son has been charged with the murder of his own father following a house fire in Sydney’s inner west.

Fire crews were called to Irrara St in Croydon just after 4am on Wednesday, following reports a vicious blaze was engulfing a home.

After bringing the fire under control, crews conducted a search of the premises and located the body of the 80-year-old father.

“While yet to be formally identified, police suspect it is that of an 80-year-old man who lived there,” NSW Police said in a statement.

On Wednesday afternoon, NSW Police released a photo of Christopher David Grantham, 50, alongside a wide public appeal for help to locate him.

Investigators quickly established a crime scene after the body of a person was located inside the home. Photo: NewsWire / Gaye Gerard

Christopher is the son of the man found dead in the the home.

Burwood Police Area Commander Superintendent Christine McDonald said police held concerns for Christopher’s welfare at the time and was related to the 80-year-old and an elderly woman who was assisting police with their inquiries.

Police believe the elderly woman left the home at about 1am - three hours before the blaze took hold.

“The reason why she left is still unknown to us,” Superintendent McDonald said.

Police were later notified a man matching Christopher’s description had allegedly threatened staff with a machete before taking cigarettes at a service station on Parramatta Rd in Haberfield about 4.20am.

Christopher was arrested while travelling on a train by officers attached to Brisbane Water Police District at Woy Woy at 7.40pm.

A machete was allegedly concealed in his pants, though police said he was cooperative throughout his arrest.

The body of a person was located inside a burnt out home in Croydon. Photo: NewsWire / Gaye Gerard

He was taken to Gosford Police Station and is now facing charges of murder, destroy or damage property with intent to endanger life – DV related, and armed robbery.

He was refused bail and is expected to appear before Gosford Local Court on Thursday.

Police said they were working through CCTV footage and obtaining statements from people Christopher allegedly messaged on Wednesday as part of their investigations.

Superintendent McDonald described the elderly man’s death in the blaze as an “absolute tragedy”.

“We are speaking to people who we know would be devastated by what has happened today,” she said.

“It is tragic. We don’t want anyone to pass away in the circumstances, but to live such a full life and pass away like this is an absolute tragedy.

“I am of the understanding that he was such a beautiful person, a great community man. He was part of a church. He played the piano, he was a teacher. There are far and wide consequences to this investigation, and my thoughts go out to not only the immediate family, but the wider community.”

Christopher David Grantham, 50, has been charged with the murder of the elderly man. Picture: Supplied

The deadly fire gutted a home in Croydon in Sydney’s Inner West about 4am on Wednesday. Picture: NewsWire/ Gaye Gerard

The father’s exact cause of death is yet to be determined, and police are preparing a report for the coroner.

Fire and Rescue NSW deployed six fire trucks and 22 firefighters to extinguish the ferocious blaze but said structural issues hindered search efforts.

“(The) roof has collapsed concealing hot spots and making search difficult,” FRNSW said in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

Police said they believe an accelerant was used in the blaze.

“I am extremely proud of the efforts of the police yesterday,” Superintendent McDonald said.

“It took determination, investigative skill and teamwork to locate that man in the same day that he committed a murder and an armed robbery.

“I am very acutely aware that this could have been a lot worse, and him in possession of a machete terrifies me, to think what he could have done if we had not intercepted him.”

Originally published as Son charged with own father’s murder after in fatal house fire in Sydney’s inner west