The sole occupant of a home in Brisbane’s north that was “completely destroyed” by an explosion remains missing, with police speculating the incident may have been a suicide.
Garry Maidment published a series of disturbing posts to Facebook in the hours prior to the incident, with police confirming it is “definitely a possibility” the explosion was self-harm related.
On Thursday afternoon, police announced they had found human remains inside the property, though the deceased is yet to be positively identified.
Just an hour before the explosion, Mr Maidment made a post to Facebook claiming that his death was imminent.
“Now for my funeral,” he said.
“What will be left of my body is strictly for my family members only.”
In previous posts from the same day, Mr Maidment spoke about being unable to make mortgage payments and how he was facing losing his home.
“I came up with a plan to financially hurt the bank and body corporate,” he said.
“Do (you) know the good part? I do not have to spend any time in jail because I will be gone.”
He went on to blame the Reserve Bank and big businesses making high profits for “crapping on poor people”.
Emergency services were called to the Numbucca Rise address in Murrumba Downs at about 1pm on Wednesday and the property was found to be “well alight”.
While there were no reported injuries following the incident, Mr Maidment, the homeowner and sole occupant of the property, is yet to be located.
Detective Acting Inspector Steve Windsor said on Thursday morning it was “definitely a possibility” that the explosion had been a suicide.
“The information I’ve been provided is that the male person has had some challenges and some current pressures in life,” he said.
“He has made some comments about that.
“There were four 9kg LGP gas bottles in what was believed to be the living room; however, that’s still being processed at the moment.
“My understanding is that the gas bottles were close together.”
According to 9 News, residents heard a loud bang shortly before the home was engulfed in flames, with debris reportedly spread across the street.
It took 35 firefighters two hours to extinguish the blaze.
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Inspector Windsor said it was “very fortunate” that no one in the community had been injured during the incident, given it was a “substantial explosion”.
“There are no concerns for the community and the public, we don’t believe there is anyone else involved in this matter,” he said.
“We don’t hold any other concerns and we’re not looking for a suspect person.”
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