Police believe that Sarah Mudge, 31, broke into the home of 33-year-old aged care worker Stanely Obi before dousing him and his new girlfriend in petrol and setting them alight on March 9.
Mr Obi was rushed from his New Beith home to a nearby hospital in critical condition. He was pronounced dead sometime after 10pm.
Mr Obi’s current girlfriend is still in hospital in serious condition. Meanwhile Ms Mudge, who is alleged to have started the blaze, became trapped in a hallway and died before police and fire services could reach her.
“We believe the person who does not live at that residence was somehow able to gain entry and then once in there was able to throw petrol around and that’s how it’s gone,” said Superintendent Mark White.
Speaking to 9News, Mr Obi’s distraught family revealed that the aged care worker had just moved into the home and was “the happiest he’s ever been”.
Superintendent White also revealed that police had previously been in contact with Mr Obi and Ms Mudge in relation to domestic violence incidents in the past.
Police say that the extent of structural damage at the home has delayed forensic examination of the crime scene and the retrieval of Ms Mudge’s body.
