Updated Frances Crawford killed by ride on mower reported at 3.40am - Toowoomba * COPS CALL MURDER

[BFew]

A SEQ - Upper Lcokyer (grew up in Toowoomba) 40s female mother of 3 psychologist killed by a ride on mower in the early hours of this morning (before 3:40am).

Deserves it's own thread.

Family speak as cops swoop on home of mum killed in lawnmower horror

Frances Crawford, aged in her 40s, was found dead at her home on Thomas Road at Upper Lockyer, southeast Queensland, at 3.40am on Tuesday.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[Kurve]

A SEQ - Upper Lcokyer (grew up in Toowoomba) 40s female mother of 3 psychologist killed by a ride on mower in the early hours of this morning (before 3:40am).

Deserves it's own thread.

Family speak as cops swoop on home of mum killed in lawnmower horror

Frances Crawford, aged in her 40s, was found dead at her home on Thomas Road at Upper Lockyer, southeast Queensland, at 3.40am on Tuesday.

www.dailymail.co.uk

This might be a horrible kind of freak accident.

Her body was found after police were called to the property following reports she had been crushed by a ride-on lawnmower.

Speaking to Daily Mail Australia on Thursday, Ms Crawford's parents Joke and Ben Pilon said their son-in-law Robert was devastated by his wife's death.

They dismissed local reports police had previously been contacted due to domestic violence matters at the home and there is no suggestion that he was in any way involved in Ms Crawford’s death.

'He's broken,' Ms Pilon said.

'They lived here happily together. It's rumours.'

The Pilons said their daughter, a psychologist, grew up in the local Toowoomba area, and the community has been left reeling in the wake of her death.

 

[BFew]

This might be a horrible kind of freak accident.

As expected, the DM is now reporting that Police are treating the death of Frances Crawford as suspicious.

Bombshell twist as cops give update over mum's 3am lawnmower death

Frances Crawford, aged in her 40s, was found dead at her home on Thomas Road at Upper Lockyer, southeast Queensland, at 3.40am on Tuesday.

www.dailymail.co.uk

'...Police have announced they are treating the fatal late-night lawn mower death of a mother-of-three as suspicious.
...
police have been poring over the home, which remains a crime scene, with Mr Crawford asked to temporarily vacate the property amid the investigation.

Mr Crawford is an RAAF cargo plane pilot and squadron leader - a senior role and the equivalent of a Major in the Army - who operates out of the Royal Australian Air Force base at Amberley, about 8km southwest of Ipswich.

Over the past two decades, the couple have lived around Australia - including in Sydney, Adelaide and in Queensland - as Sqn Ldr Crawford worked numerous roles within Australian Defence Force.
...'

 

[craffles]

As expected, the DM is now reporting that Police are treating the death of Frances Crawford as suspicious.

Bombshell twist as cops give update over mum's 3am lawnmower death

Frances Crawford, aged in her 40s, was found dead at her home on Thomas Road at Upper Lockyer, southeast Queensland, at 3.40am on Tuesday.

www.dailymail.co.uk

'...Police have announced they are treating the fatal late-night lawn mower death of a mother-of-three as suspicious.
...
police have been poring over the home, which remains a crime scene, with Mr Crawford asked to temporarily vacate the property amid the investigation.

Mr Crawford is an RAAF cargo plane pilot and squadron leader - a senior role and the equivalent of a Major in the Army - who operates out of the Royal Australian Air Force base at Amberley, about 8km southwest of Ipswich.

Over the past two decades, the couple have lived around Australia - including in Sydney, Adelaide and in Queensland - as Sqn Ldr Crawford worked numerous roles within Australian Defence Force.
...'

I mean it is kind of suspicious that someone is mowing the lawn or using it as a mode of transport at 3.30am in the middle of winter. It gets very very cold in Toowoomba.

Only logical thing I can think of is they had livestock on the property and fed them at the crack of dawn !?

 

[CredibleSauce]

I mean it is kind of suspicious that someone is mowing the lawn or using it as a mode of transport at 3.30am in the middle of winter. It gets very very cold in Toowoomba.

Only logical thing I can think of is they had livestock on the property and fed them at the crack of dawn !?

Unless she was somehow crushed by it falling on her from a height (I’m thinking a being loaded on a semi trailer using a forklift type scenario, still bizarre at that time) those are my thought exactly.

Have never, ever heard of anyone feeding stock on a ride on mower…

 

[craffles]

Unless she was somehow crushed by it falling on her from a height (I’m thinking a being loaded on a semi trailer using a forklift type scenario, still bizarre at that time) those are my thought exactly.

Have never, ever heard of anyone feeding stock on a ride on mower…

Yeah I’ve got NFI really, something seems strange but I do genuinely hope for her family’s sake it was just a tragic accident.

 

[SaintsSeptember]

'Lawnmowers do not kill people. People kill people.' - Wacko

George Kennedy: One very serious point: lawnmowers do not kill people. People kill people.

clip.cafe

 

[Kurve]

It's definitely suspicious but freak accidents do happen. Investigators will need to rule out her being injured in an attack and thrown under the ride on mower to cover it up?

 

[BFew]

It's definitely suspicious but freak accidents do happen. Investigators will need to rule out her being injured in an attack and thrown under the ride on mower to cover it up?

Statistically, way more likely to be DV though.

Police are now reporting they (Police) had been at the property a year ago.

Cops reveal bombshell new details over mum killed in lawnmower tragedy

Frances Crawford, 49, was found dead on her rural property in Upper Lockyer, southeast Queensland, at 3.40am on Tuesday.

www.dailymail.co.uk

'...
Queensland Police on Friday revealed her husband Robert Crawford, an Airforce Squadron Leader, called emergency services to report his wife had been injured by a lawnmower, with paramedics arriving to find her already dead.

Detective Superintendent George Marchesini said Sqn Ldr Crawford, who was the only other person at the property at the time, has been questioned by officers.
...
Detective Superintendent Marchesini revealed that police had previously attended the property in July last year and there was 'some action that was taken'.

But he said there were no current domestic violence orders in place between the couple. Sqn Ldr Crawford has not been charged with any offence over the tragedy.
...
Daily Mail Australia understands Crawford returned to Australia from an overseas deployment in late July and had been staying at the property for around a week before his wife's death.

Det Supt Marchesini said the circumstances leading up to Ms Crawford's death - such as her husband's work schedule - would form part of their investigation.
...'

 

[Kurve]

Statistically, way more likely to be DV though.

Police are now reporting they (Police) had been at the property a year ago.

Cops reveal bombshell new details over mum killed in lawnmower tragedy

Frances Crawford, 49, was found dead on her rural property in Upper Lockyer, southeast Queensland, at 3.40am on Tuesday.

www.dailymail.co.uk

'...
Queensland Police on Friday revealed her husband Robert Crawford, an Airforce Squadron Leader, called emergency services to report his wife had been injured by a lawnmower, with paramedics arriving to find her already dead.
Detective Superintendent George Marchesini said Sqn Ldr Crawford, who was the only other person at the property at the time, has been questioned by officers.
...
Detective Superintendent Marchesini revealed that police had previously attended the property in July last year and there was 'some action that was taken'.

But he said there were no current domestic violence orders in place between the couple. Sqn Ldr Crawford has not been charged with any offence over the tragedy.
...
Daily Mail Australia understands Crawford returned to Australia from an overseas deployment in late July and had been staying at the property for around a week before his wife's death.

Det Supt Marchesini said the circumstances leading up to Ms Crawford's death - such as her husband's work schedule - would form part of their investigation.
...'

Many women do cover up DV, even well educated professionals and they also hide it from their families. When they do eventually come out and say they're a victim of DV, they can find they've done such a good job of hiding it previously, their word is questioned, making it even far more difficult.

 

[BFew]

I mean it is kind of suspicious that someone is mowing the lawn or using it as a mode of transport at 3.30am in the middle of winter. It gets very very cold in Toowoomba.

Only logical thing I can think of is they had livestock on the property and fed them at the crack of dawn !?

Kurve The actual time of death has not been clarified yet.

Just that it was before 3:40am which was when it is reported that paramedics arrived and pronounced her dead.

I suspect that the actual accident was well before 3:40am, given that the husband reported her injured (and not deceased), and paramedics only pronounced her dead at 3:40am.

 

[BFew]

Many women do cover up DV, even well educated professionals and they also hide it from their families. When they do eventually come out and say they're a victim of DV, they can find they've done such a good job of hiding it previously, their word is questioned, making it even far more difficult.

Sometimes to protect children, parents/family prefer the children to think (for as long as possible) that mummy had a terrible accident, or got very sick and died, as opposed to Daddy killed Mummy.

 

[BFew]

Police have made an appeal to the public for help in finding out what happened.
The call to emergency services (by the husband) was approx. 3am.

Frances was last seen alive on Monday afternoon (not sure if this is when the husband last saw her alive or just someone other than the husband).

And she was at work earlier that day (as a psychologist)

https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/toowoomba/upper-lockyer-lawnmower-death-police-appeal-for-information-into-suspicious-death-of-frances-crawford/news-story/42fd06cd0750e809b92dfd74f8b71be4

'Upper Lockyer lawnmower death: Police appeal for information into suspicious death of Frances Crawford'​

'Michael Nolan
August 2, 2024 - 11:40AM
Toowoomba Chronicle
...
Detectives have confirmed that officers had previously attended the Upper Lockyer home of Frances Crawford in 2023 as investigations into the woman’s death continue.

The 49-year-old Toowoomba psychologist was found dead at her Thomas Rd home at about 3.40am on Tuesday after suffering critical injuries.

Southern Region Detective Superintendent George Marchesini revealed that Ms Crawford’s husband Robert Crawford phoned emergency services about 3am on Tuesday, allegedly after finding her injured.

Sadly Ms Crawford was dead by the time the police and paramedics arrived.

“Since that time we have not been able to determine a cause (of Ms Crawford’s death), hence why we have determined this matter to be suspicious,” Superintendent Marchesini said.

Superintendent Marchesini said Mr Crawford has been assisting police with their inquiries. There is no suggestion he is responsible for Ms Crawford’s death.

Superintendent Marchesini appealed for information from the public.

“If there is anyone who has knowledge of the woman or the family and they hear that information coming out this week, then we want to hear from them,” he said.

“This a tragic incident, it is an incident where our hearts do go out to the family, in particular the woman’s three children, the community, her workplace and the first responder that go to these types of jobs.”

Superintendent Marchesini said police had limited contact with the family prior to the tragedy, other than a call-out in July 2023.

“There was some action that was taken but there are no current domestic violence orders in place,” he said.

“In these sorts of matters, you certainly feel for the family in general, we’re not looking for any other person in regards to this matter, but we need to better understand the circumstances as to how this happened.”

Superintendent Marchesini declined to comment on what Ms Crawford’s suspected time of death was, other than to say she was last seen alive on Monday afternoon, and believed she had attended her place of work, Quality Life Psychology Services in Toowoomba, earlier that day. He also declined to comment on the specifics of her injuries.

The brother of Ms Crawford has spoken of the devotion she had for others.

“Frances had a loving heart and she always saw the best in others,” David Pilon said.

“She cared deeply about the people around her and put their needs before her own. Her gentle grace and compassionate nature will be missed by everyone who knew her, but particularly by her family, her church family and her colleagues and clients.

“She loved Jesus and it is a great comfort to her family and friends that she is now at peace in heaven.

“While Frances was taken from her family far too soon, she touched the lives of so many people during her 49 years.

“A wonderful wife and mother to three fantastic children, a treasured daughter, sister and niece, a loyal and valued friend, and a professional psychologist whose caring nature and years of training allowed her to look after so many others during their time of need.”

Anyone with information about the matter is urged to phone Policelink on 131 000 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.'

 

[Kurve]

Sometimes to protect children, parents/family prefer the children to think (for as long as possible) that mummy had a terrible accident, or got very sick and died, as opposed to Daddy killed Mummy.

Frances' parents made a public statement in support of her husband?

Depending on how old the kids are, they should be kept off social media and away from the TV while the investigation is ongoing. imo.

 

[BFew]

Frances' parents made a public statement in support of her husband?

Depending on how old the kids are, they should be kept off social media and away from the TV while the investigation is ongoing. imo.

Frances was 49yo.
So her 3 kids might all be young adult (18+) children now.

 

[BFew]

So I guess that with the death of his wife in suspicious circumstances, the husband probably won't be getting called up to serve the ADF in any middle eastern conflict that starts within the next few weeks.

Eerie details emerge after mum's death in late-night mowing incident

Frances Crawford, 49, was found dead at her home on Thomas Road at Upper Lockyer, southeast Queensland, at 3.40am on Tuesday following reports she had been crushed by a ride-on lawnmower.

www.dailymail.co.uk

'...
The ride-on lawnmower at the centre of a mother-of-three's 'suspicious' late night death has a safety feature designed to stop the vehicle from moving when no one is sitting on it.
...
Daily Mail Australia can reveal Husqvarna ride-on-mowers - like the one towed away from the property on Tuesday - are equipped with a built-in 'kill switch'.

Kill switches, a common feature on ride-on mowers, work by turning off the device's major systems - like its engine and blade - when a driver leaves the seat.

However, the setting - which operates via a pressure sensor situated under the seat - can be disabled - and it is not unusual for riders to do so for ease of use.

It is also unclear how effective this feature would be in preventing injury if a lawnmower encountered trouble on a slope and rolled down an embankment - as was initially reported to be the case in Ms Crawford's death.

The revelation comes as police work to piece together the circumstances surrounding the unusual death, with detectives reportedly baffled as to why Ms Crawford was outside mowing at that time of night in the middle of winter.

Temperatures in Toowoomba early on Tuesday morning plunged to as low as -5C.
...'

 

[craffles]

Daily mail really doing their best to put Mr Crawford under the microscope. If it turns out to be a tragic accident they might regret that.

 

[BFew]

'The plot thickens'!

Major twist after Australian woman dies in 3am lawnmower incident

Frances Crawford, 49, was found dead at her Upper Lockyer home, in south-east Queensland, at 3.40am on Tuesday 30 July.

www.dailymail.co.uk

'Published: 17:24 AEST, 6 August 2024 | Updated: 18:28 AEST, 6 August 2024
...
Daily Mail Australia can also reveal that Mr Crawford was embroiled in court issues while stationed in Adelaide in 2012.

He was charged with abuse of public office after he allegedly manipulated regulations to get a Middle East posting and earn a tax-free bonus.

During proceedings, Mr Crawford sought to subpoena classified documents to prove that he had good reasons to be deployed at the time in question.

Prosecutors later dropped all charges against him.
...'

Eerie question after Australian mum killed in lawnmower incident

Frances Crawford, 49, was found dead at her Upper Lockyer home, in southeast Queensland, during the early hours of Tuesday 30 July.

www.dailymail.co.uk

'Published: 23:34 AEST, 5 August 2024 | Updated: 07:59 AEST, 6 August 2024
...
1. Why was Ms Crawford mowing late at night?

Temperatures in the Upper Lockyer region dropped to as low as -5C during the early hours of July 30.

While some farmers mow their lawns at night to avoid the daytime heat, doing so in the middle of winter when it is freezing cold and grass growth is minimal has left locals puzzled.

Initial reports by local media outlets suggested police had been told Ms Crawford was crushed while moving a mower, however, this has not been confirmed by detectives.

Additionally, police have also not commented on whether or not they believe Ms Crawford was using the mower at the time she sustained critical injuries.

2. How was Ms Crawford injured?

Police have not shared details about their theories on what might have happened and have not revealed the nature of Ms Crawford's injuries.
...
3. What time was Ms Crawford critically injured?

Police have not confirmed what time they believe Ms Crawford died, only that she was pronounced dead when paramedics arrived at 3.40am.
...

 

[craffles]

'The plot thickens'!

Major twist after Australian woman dies in 3am lawnmower incident

Frances Crawford, 49, was found dead at her Upper Lockyer home, in south-east Queensland, at 3.40am on Tuesday 30 July.

www.dailymail.co.uk

'Published: 17:24 AEST, 6 August 2024 | Updated: 18:28 AEST, 6 August 2024
...
Daily Mail Australia can also reveal that Mr Crawford was embroiled in court issues while stationed in Adelaide in 2012.

He was charged with abuse of public office after he allegedly manipulated regulations to get a Middle East posting and earn a tax-free bonus.

During proceedings, Mr Crawford sought to subpoena classified documents to prove that he had good reasons to be deployed at the time in question.

Prosecutors later dropped all charges against him.
...'

Eerie question after Australian mum killed in lawnmower incident

Frances Crawford, 49, was found dead at her Upper Lockyer home, in southeast Queensland, during the early hours of Tuesday 30 July.

www.dailymail.co.uk

'Published: 23:34 AEST, 5 August 2024 | Updated: 07:59 AEST, 6 August 2024
...
1. Why was Ms Crawford mowing late at night?

Temperatures in the Upper Lockyer region dropped to as low as -5C during the early hours of July 30.

While some farmers mow their lawns at night to avoid the daytime heat, doing so in the middle of winter when it is freezing cold and grass growth is minimal has left locals puzzled.

Initial reports by local media outlets suggested police had been told Ms Crawford was crushed while moving a mower, however, this has not been confirmed by detectives.

Additionally, police have also not commented on whether or not they believe Ms Crawford was using the mower at the time she sustained critical injuries.

2. How was Ms Crawford injured?

Police have not shared details about their theories on what might have happened and have not revealed the nature of Ms Crawford's injuries.
...
3. What time was Ms Crawford critically injured?

Police have not confirmed what time they believe Ms Crawford died, only that she was pronounced dead when paramedics arrived at 3.40am.
...

So there’s zero new information

 

[BFew]

So there’s zero new information

Apart from the groundbreaking discovery, that the grass does not grow much in the cold of an inland QLD winter.

 

[Bostonian]

You'd think the types of injuries sustained might give a better indication as to if someone was run over or if the mover toppled over.

 

[BFew]

You'd think the types of injuries sustained might give a better indication as to if someone was run over or if the mover toppled over.

Has anyone every been strangled by a lawnmower?

 

[craffles]

Has anyone every been strangled by a lawnmower?

I’ve been hit in the nether region by a stone I ran over with my push mower. Missed the aggots thankfully but dropped me fair and square. Do not recommend.

 

[CredibleSauce]

He is her estranged husband, and he didn't live there "happily together".... unless they got back together after separating last year in July when she changed all the locks on the house and called the police on him....

If this turns out to be the case it’s pretty sick that her parents are out singing his praises in the media..

 

[craffles]

If this turns out to be the case it’s pretty sick that her parents are out singing his praises in the media..

Joined the forum to make that post so clearly has a vested interest. Another unique user for Kurve, another reason for Chief to give her a pay rise!