An RAAF pilot is being quizzed by detectives after his wife was reportedly killed in a ‘suspicious’ late-night lawn mower accident – as it is revealed police were previously called to the home.
Frances Crawford, 49, was found dead on her rural property in Upper Lockyer, south-east Queensland, at 3.40am on Tuesday.
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.
‘He is assisting police with inquiries to determine what actually happened on that morning,’ he said on Friday.
‘Since that time, we’ve not been able to determine a cause in regards to what was discovered at the scene. We have been talking to him since [she] was discovered.’
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.
Robert Crawford (pictured) is assisting with police inquiries after his wife was found dead in suspicious circumstances
Ms Crawford was found dead on her Upper Lockyer property during the early hours of Tuesday
He said Ms Crawford was last seen alive on Monday afternoon and had attended work earlier that day.
Det Supt Marchesini said police are not ‘looking for any other person’ in regards to the investigation, but urged anyone who may have information to come forward as the investigation continues.
‘There are a number of things that we need to better understand,’ he said.
‘If anyone has knowledge of the woman, or knowledge of the family and they have heard this information that is coming out this week, then we would want to hear from them in terms of what they know.
‘This is a tragic incident.. Our hearts go out to the family, particularly the woman’s three children, the community, her workplace, and also first responders that go to these types of jobs.’
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.
The update comes after police declared the death was being treated as suspicious on Thursday after spending the day scouring the home for evidence.
Throughout the day, 10 police cars – including several forensic units – were seen arriving at the remote property.
Ms Crawford, who grew up in the Toowoomba region, was a respected local psychologist, with the community left reeling in the wake of her death.
Speaking to Daily Mail Australia on Thursday, her parents Joke and Ben Pilon said her husband was ‘broken’ by their daughter’s death and the couple lived together ‘happily’.
A lawn mower is pictured being towed away from the Crawford property on Tuesday
A police car is seen leaving the home on Thursday
Her devastated loved ones have paid tribute to the mother-of-three, with her brother, David Pilon, saying she had ‘a loving heart’.
‘She loved Jesus and it is a great comfort to her family and friends that she is now at peace in heaven,’ he told the Toowoomba Chronicle.
Ms Crawford’s family said that her gentle grace and compassionate nature will be missed by everyone.
‘She cared deeply about the people around her and put their needs before her own,’ the family
‘While Frances was taken from her family far too soon, she touched the lives of so many people during her 49 years.’
Sqn Ldr 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.
The investigation continues.
