How a mother-of-three was killed in a late-night lawnmower incident remains a mystery almost a week on from her death, with detectives continuing to piece together the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.
Frances Crawford, 49, was found dead at her Upper Lockyer home in southeast Queensland during the early hours of Tuesday, July 30.
Emergency services were called to the rural property at 3.40am to reports that Ms Crawford had suffered critical injuries in an incident involving a ride-on mower, with paramedics arriving to find the local psychologist already deceased.
Police have said they are treating the case as suspicious and have urged anyone who has information about Ms Crawford or the family to come forward.
As detectives await a breakthrough in the baffling case, Daily Mail Australia looks at the key questions that remain unanswered.
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.
Frances Crawford, 49, was found dead at her home in Queensland’s Upper Lockyer region last week
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.
Speaking to media on Friday, Detective Superintendent George Marchesini said police were called to the property due to a matter ‘related to a lawnmower’ but would not confirm whether police believe the machine caused her injuries.
‘That’s part of the investigation,’ he said.
‘She had sustained critical injuries. There are a number of things that we need to understand better to determine what the cause was and how this has actually happened.
‘We have not been able to determine a cause in regards to what was discovered at that scene, hence why we are determining this matter to be suspicious.’
A police vehicle loaded with forensic equipment is seen at the rural property on Thursday morning
A lawnmower was towed away from the property on Tuesday
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.
Detective Superintendent Marchesini said she was last seen alive sometime on Monday afternoon and was believed to have attended work that day.
‘The male person at the house has discovered the woman around the time and that is how police were called. A call was made to emergency services to render assistance and QPS and QAS attended that scene, but sadly, she had already passed,’ he said.
What we do know?
Police have revealed the phone call to emergency services was made by Ms Crawford’s husband, Robert, who Daily Mail Australia revealed last week is an RAAF pilot and Squadron Leader based out of Amberley.
Daily Mail Australia understands Mr Crawford had returned to Australia from an overseas deployment about a week before his wife’s death.
Police have also revealed officers were called to the property due to issues at the home in July 2023, but no current domestic violence orders were in place.
Daily Mail Australia does not suggest Mr Crawford was involved in his wife’s death.
Ms Crawford’s death has left the local community, where she was born and raised, reeling in grief as loved ones remember her for her ‘gentle nature’ and ‘kindness’.
Police spent Thursday scouring the home for evidence, with 10 different cop cars seen arriving at the rural property – including several forensics vans.
Later that day, police officially declared the case suspicious.
Her husband RAAF Pilot Robert Crawford (pictured) has been assisting police with their inquiries
Detective Superintendent Marchesini said Mr Crawford has been assisting police with their inquiries as they seek to better understand what happened that evening.
‘We are talking with him and we have been since [she] was discovered,’ he said.
Detective Superintendent Marchesini also stressed that police are not looking for anyone else in relation to the incident, but would like anyone who may have information to come forward.
‘If [you] have knowledge of the woman and you obviously hear this information coming out this week, then we want to hear from them in relation to what they do know,’ he said.
Daily Mail Australia understands a lawnmower towed away from the scene on Tuesday was a Husqvarna – which come equipped with a safety feature designed to prevent the engine and blades from operating when the driver is not on the seat.
However, this function can be disabled and it is unclear if it was operational on the Crawfords’ mower
