By Adam Hegarty, Alex Crowe and Lachlan Abbott
A 60-year-old man has been charged with murder after a fatal house fire in Victoria’s Central Highlands late on Saturday.
Maree Vermont was found dead inside her house in Goldie near Kilmore in central Victoria after firefighters extinguished the blaze that destroyed the Mt William Road home.
Maree Vermont has been remembered as a kind and loving mother by her three sons.Credit: Nine News
On top of the murder charge, Timothy Loosemore was also charged with one count of criminal damage by fire in Melbourne Magistrates’ court on Tuesday. Loosemore was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries after the blaze.
Loosemore’s relationship with Vermont, 60, was unclear and the circumstances of her death were also yet to be made public.
Vermont’s three sons – Harrison, Darcy and Lachlan – paid tribute to their mother on Tuesday.
The family was “grieving heavily” over the death of their mother inside the home she had built with their father, Harrison told Nine News.
Harrison described her as someone who had always supported her three sons.
“She always taught us to be full of love and to not be angry and hateful and we just, we know she loved us, and we loved her,” he said.
Harrison said his parents had put their lives into the property and had built their dream home to raise the three boys in.
“It was just coming together as the dream home, it really was a sight to see and something we were very proud of,” he said. “Mum was doing really well and was very happy and excited to see us boys and see us growing.
Timothy Loosemore in court on Tuesday.Credit: Mollie McPherson
“She was always fun, always supportive. She gave us the warmest, safest, healthiest upbringing – her and dad.”
The three boys were planning to move into another house on the Goldie property to take over their mother’s work on the farm.
“There’s a lot to look after and clean up here,” Harrison said.
Loosemore, who did not apply for bail, will next appear in court in January.
Anyone who witnessed the incident or with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au
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