By Ashlea Knickel For Daily Mail Australia
07:17 14 Jul 2023, updated 07:59 14 Jul 2023
- Gary William Maidment’s unit burnt down on Wednesday
- Hours before, he posted about revenge on his body corporate
- Human remains were found inside the home on Thursday
A man who was stressed about the skyrocketing cost of his mortgage has died after an explosion tore apart his townhouse.
Garry William Maidment’s two-storey unit on Nambucca Close in Murrumba Downs, north Brisbane, caught fire at about 12.50pm on Wednesday.
Seven fire crews were dispatched to contain the large fire, which destroyed the home, and an exclusion zone was enacted around the complex until 4:55pm.
Four nine-kilogram gas bottles were discovered inside the home once investigators could enter the property on Thursday.
Acting Detective Inspector Stephen Windsor said human remains were found near a fifth gas bottle in the unit’s garage.
‘Our understanding is the male person has some challenges and pressures in his life,’ Inspector Windsor said.
Forensic investigations into the fire will take several days but Mr Maidment began posting to his Facebook page on Monday about his plan to seek revenge against his body corporate, his bank and the Reserve Bank of Australia.
Over three days, Mr Maidment detailed online why he could no longer afford his mortgage repayments and was at risk of losing his home.
‘Now because I can’t make the new payment on my mortgage, I will lose my house,’ he wrote.
‘Most people would just walk away but when you have cornered a tiger like me, I fight back big time and rip you apart.
‘I came up with a plan to financially hurt the bank and body corporate.
‘Do know the good part? I do not have to spend any time in jail because I will be gone.’
Mr Maidment shared his last post just one hour before Queensland Fire and Emergency Services were called to his unit.
‘Now for my funeral, what will be left of my body is strictly for family members only,’ it reads.
‘That’s right, I was adopted so there is no blood line. Looks like my body will be a John Doe.’
Other posts shared details about his family life and hatred of ‘big business’.
‘The Reserve Bank board are crapping on poor people with mortgages,’ he wrote in one.
‘Big business profits [have been] very high over the last two years yet the mortgage owners get screwed because of inflation caused by big business profits.
‘My mortgage repayments 15 months ago were $1,200 and [now are] just under $3,000.’
Neighbours now blame the banks for his tragic death.
‘You got to blame the banks a bit,’ one said.
Inspector Windsor confirmed the home was owned by a single man in his 60s.
‘The male person has had some challenges and current pressures in life and he has made some comments about that,’ he said at a media conference on Thursday.
‘Scientific police who are trained in this area are slowly processing things, making sure any evidence is located.’
The Australian Business Number for Mr Maidment’s gardening service, Whip ‘n’ Mow North Brisbane, was cancelled on July 10.
Queensland Police said it is treating the fire as suspicious but are not looking for a suspect.
Large flames shooting out of the home were visible from surrounding suburbs with neighbours up to five kilometres away reporting sounds of an ‘explosion’ shortly before emergency services were called.
Anyone with relevant information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.
Lifeline 13 11 14
Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636
