Maree Mavis Crabtree, a 59-year-old mother from Queensland, Australia, who was acquitted of murdering her son Jonathan, now faces a murder charge over the death of her daughter Erin. The case has drawn significant attention as new details emerge.
Jonathan Crabtree's remains were found at the family's Gold Coast property in 2017. Prosecutors alleged that Maree laced a smoothie with oxycodone and later made a $125,000 insurance claim from his superannuation death benefit policy. However, a jury found her not guilty on all counts earlier this month.
Now, Crabtree must answer to a murder charge concerning Erin, who was 18 when she was found unresponsive at the family home in September 2012. At the time, Crabtree, along with her son and another daughter, were on a Pacific Islands cruise. The trip was arranged by a disability service to give Erin a break, but Crabtree informed the travel agent weeks beforehand that her daughter would not attend.
Details of Erin's death were withheld from jurors during Jonathan's trial, though the judge mentioned it in his summing up. Beyond the murder allegations, Crabtree faces multiple fraud charges, including attempted fraud offences totalling at least $100,000 in December 2018, and additional sums between 2010 and 2015. She also faces eight counts of securing financial advantage through deception and three general dishonesty charges.
Defence solicitor Jodie Mair stated that the Commonwealth proceedings are on hold pending resolution of the Supreme Court matters. The murder and state fraud allegations are scheduled for mention or review in the coming month. The Commonwealth allegations are due for mention in the District Court on July 16.
