A Queensland coroner has determined that the three conspiracy theorists responsible for the horrific Wieambilla massacre suffered from shared delusional disorder, revealing new details about the tragic events that unfolded at their remote property in December 2022.
The Deadly Ambush
Gareth Train, his wife Stacey, and his brother Nathaniel executed a calculated ambush on two police officers who had visited their rural property in the Western Downs area, west of Brisbane, on December 12, 2022. Constables Matthew Arnold, 26, and Rachel McCrow, 29, were shot at close range within ten minutes of arriving to conduct a welfare check on Nathaniel, who had been reported missing by NSW Police.
The tragedy deepened when Good Samaritan neighbour Alan Dare was also murdered after he came to investigate smoke billowing from the property. The Trains were subsequently killed in a gunfight with police later that night following a lengthy siege.
The Alarming Arsenal
A five-week long inquest last year revealed disturbing photographs of the compound and the extensive weapons arsenal the Train family had accumulated. Authorities documented a chilling collection that included:
- Knives, axes, bats and machetes
- What appeared to be a spear and bow and arrow
- At least a dozen boxes of ammunition
- Multiple firearms including rifles
- Vast amounts of camouflage gear
Perhaps most chilling were images showing one of the slain officer's taser and handgun sitting casually on an outdoor table after being taken from their bodies by one of the Trains. The family's casual treatment of weapons was evident throughout the property, with guns pictured on dressers and a rifle covered in camouflage inside their car.
Coroner's Findings
State Coroner Terry Ryan delivered his official findings on Friday, stating that the four police officers attending the property were adequately equipped and trained for a missing persons case but their equipment was woefully inadequate to defend against the ambush they faced.
They were no match for an ambush, Mr Ryan said. I'm not satisfied extra protection may have prevented their deaths given the wholly unexpected and unprecedented nature of what was lying in wait.
The coroner confirmed that all three perpetrators had an undiagnosed and untreated psychotic illness but concluded it wasn't possible to classify the murders as a terrorist act under current definitions.
Off-Grid Conspiracy Lifestyle
Analysis of the property revealed it was designed for complete off-grid living, with no main power, water or sewage connections. The Trains relied on solar panels, tank water and had stockpiled non-perishable foods. Troubling details emerged about the complex relationships between the Train brothers and Stacey, with their father claiming Gareth had taken over his younger brother's marriage.
The trio had become increasingly obsessed with anti-authority conspiracy theories, which was evident in a since-deleted YouTube video where Gareth and Stacey ranted about devils and demons while boasting about the cold-blooded killings. In the clip, Gareth declared: They came to kill us and we killed them.
The coroner's investigation highlighted critical communication failures between NSW and Queensland police, noting that concerning emails from Gareth Train warning that officers wanted to see his brother dead weren't properly shared with the attending officers.
