EXCLUSIVE
A RAAF pilot accused of murdering his wife and the mother of his three children on their rural property has made several inquiries to estate agents about rental houses in Brisbane over the past 13 months.
Robert Crawford, 47, allegedly killed his wife Frances, 49, and moved her body to make her death look like a lawnmower accident at their property in Upper Lockyer, near Toowoomba in southeast Queensland, at 3.40 am on July. 30.
Crawford was arrested on October 10 after police put out a public call for people to come forward as they revealed he had allegedly been messaging women on dating apps around the world and in Australia.
Now Daily Mail Australia can reveal Crawford applied for a rental property in Brisbane’s south in early August last year.
Five months later, in January this year, he again submitted an application form for another rental property in Brisbane’s south.
Frances Crawford, 49, was allegedly murdered in Upper Lockyer, Queensland, on July 30.
Robert Crawford, 47, presents an award at an ADF event
Daily Mail Australia understands that in the months before his wife’s alleged murder, Crawford, when not at work, spent his time between his Upper Lockyer home and an address in Brisbane.
In September, while detectives were investigating his wife’s death, Crawford put his marital property up for sale on Airbnb for $350 a night. The post was removed due to media publicity.
Crawford was a RAAF squadron leader, operating from the Royal Australian Air Force base at Amberley, about 8 kilometers south-west of Ipswich.
Over the past two decades, the family moved to various cities around the country, including Sydney and Adelaide, while he pursued his career in the military.
Police will allege he had relationships with women in countries including the United States, Italy, Papua New Guinea, Afghanistan, Guam, Japan, New Zealand and all Australian states and territories except South Australia and Tasmania.
Robert Crawford, 47, allegedly killed his wife Frances, 49, and moved her body to make her death appear to be a lawnmower accident.
Pictured: The Crawfords’ Upper Lockyer home, which appeared on Airbnb in September
Meanwhile, Ms. Crawford served her community as a beloved psychologist, providing therapy to adults, adolescents, and children.
According to his biography on Toowoomba’s Quality Life Psychology Services website, he had “extensive experience” working with a variety of mental health issues.
Her special interests included anxiety, depression, stress, panic, anger, grief, post-traumatic stress disorder, eating disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, chronic pain, parenting, behavioral protective and assertiveness.
Her death has shocked her loved ones and the Toowoomba region, where she has been remembered as a loving mother, a beloved daughter, a sister and friend, a dedicated health professional and a valued member of her church and community.
Crawford has been charged with one count of murder (crime of domestic violence) and misconduct with a dead body by interference.
He is remanded in custody and his case is due to appear at Ipswich Magistrates’ Court on October 25.