These are the disabled siblings allegedly murdered by their rat-loving, reality star-obsessed mother, who stands accused of carrying out the ‘calculated’ killings so she could pocket nearly $1million.
Maree Crabtree was charged on Wednesday over the deaths of her 26-year-old son Jonathan and 18-year-old daughter Erin, who died five years apart on the Gold Coast.
Jonathon’s body was found at a home in the suburb of Upper Coomera in July 2017 and Erin was located at a property in nearby Maudsland in September 2012.
Both siblings, who were first believed to have committed suicide, had disabilities and died as a result of being forced to take prescription medication, police allege.
These are the disabled siblings allegedly murdered by their own mother. Jonathan (right) and Erin (left) Crabtree died five years apart on the Gold Coast
Maree Crabtree (pictured) was charged on Wednesday over the deaths of her 26-year-old son and 18-year-old daughter
Crabtree (pictured shortly after her arrest) is accused of carrying out the ‘calculated’ killings so she could pocket nearly $1million from insurance payouts
Court documents reveal Crabtree allegedly dishonestly received an insurance pay-out of $567,863, a total permanent disability claim for $238,800 and had attempted to fraudulently obtain a superannuation death benefit of $125,000.
Crabtree, 51, is further accused of seriously assaulting her 25-year-old daughter, Tara, over several years.
The accused killer has been revealed as a passionate fan of teenage pop stars, reality television – and rats.
‘Hi, I live on the Gold Coast, I love fishing, long walks on the beach, watching TV, reading, cooking, gardening, just love [singer] SIA, Dance Moms, all movies,’ reads her Twitter bio.
A Facebook page started by her surviving daughter, Tara (pictured), for small animal rescues in her local area, suggests she ran the service with her mother
Crabtree’s social media pages are filled with images and messages about Maddie Ziegler
The 51-year-old appears to be a big fan of the American dancer, actress and model
‘So proud of you,’ and ‘such an amazing dancer’ are among the adoring tweets she posted about the teenager
Her social media pages are filled with images of 15-year-old American actress and dancer Maddie Ziegler.
‘So proud of you,’ and ‘such an amazing dancer’ are among the adoring tweets she posted about the teenager.
Crabtree is also a long-time member of the Queensland Rodent Fanciers Society and competed regularly at rat shows, according to the Gold Coast Bulletin.
The group’s secretary Sandy O’Hare told the publication the accused killer owned half a dozen rats and attended shows with another family member.
‘The rats are full of personality and Maree loves animals,’ Mrs O’Hare said.
‘I don’t really know the family very well but they haven’t come to any shows for quite a while.’
Crabtree introduces herself as a beach-loving, Dance Moms watching Gold Coast local
Crabtree, 51, is further accused of seriously assaulting her 25-year-old daughter, Tara, over several years
Crabtree, 51, was arrested on Wednesday morning over the deaths of her disabled children
A Facebook page started by her surviving daughter, Tara, for small animal rescues in her local area, suggests she ran the service with her mother.
‘I love animals and if you have any pets you cannot look after [that] need a home for whatever reason, we are happy [to] take them,’ she wrote.
‘My mum Maree and myself treat your beloved pets as part of our own family, they will live the rest of their lives with us.’
On her personal Facebook page, she wrote: ‘I miss my life, my friends and my chihuahua Tinkerbell, my German Shepherd and Casey my cat’.
Police have alleged before Jonathan’s death, she counselled him to hold up a chemist with a knife for prescription painkillers
Crabtree was allegedly responsible for killing her son, Jonathan (pictured) whose body was found at an Upper Coomera home in July last year
Crabtree faces two counts of murder, one count each of torture and grievous bodily harm.
She will also face two counts each of fraud and attempted fraud and one count of robbery whilst armed.
The 51-year-old allegedly encouraged her son Jonathan to hold up a chemist in Southport, Queensland.
In 2015, he had stormed into the store wearing a balaclava and wielding a knife, The Australian reported.
He told staff to give him ‘all your Tramadol’ – a prescription painkiller the 26-year-old had been addicted to since he was involved in a car accident in 2009.
Crabtree has been remanded in custody and her matter is set to return to court on February 12.
Crabtree is also a long-time member of the Queensland Rodent Fanciers Society and competed regularly at rat shows (stock)
Police will reportedly allege Crabtree slowly poisoned them over an ‘extended period’
Her 18-year-old daughter and 26-year-old son were found dead around five years apart
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