Maree Vermont, a 60-year-old surveyor and Airbnb host in rural Victoria, was killed by guest Timothy Loosemore after he became obsessed with her and reacted angrily when she rejected him. Her son, Darcy, has described the family’s idyllic upbringing and the years his mother spent creating their remote stone home, while recounting how a guest initially welcomed as a helper became dangerous. Loosemore allegedly set fire to the property and Maree’s body, leaving forensic experts unable to determine precisely how she died.

The property near Goldie, about an hour north of Melbourne, was built by Maree and her husband from a vacant block bought in 1985. After their separation, Maree continued developing and maintaining the house while offering Airbnb accommodation to help ease financial pressure. Loosemore, a 62-year-old from Somerset in the UK, first stayed in March 2023, later returned and offered to work for accommodation, but allegedly became increasingly close to Maree before turning violent when she asked him to leave.