Frances Elizabeth Crawford: Police reveal update into woman’s ride-on mower death in Lockyer Valley, Queensland

The reason a husband called triple-zero at 3.30am to report his wife’s fatal injuries in an apparent lawnmower incident is still being looked at by police as they invsetigate the death.

Frances Elizabeth Crawford, 49, was found dead alongside a ride-on mower at a Thomas Rd property in Upper Lockyer Valley near Toowoomba,just before 3.40am on July 30.

Emergency services found her at the foot of a retaining wall in the backyard of the property.

Forensic testing and analysis of how Ms Crawford ended up in that location remain under investigation.

Her husband Robert Crawford made the triple-zero call, has been assisting police and has not been named a suspect.

On Friday, Detective Superintendent George Marchesini said the timing of the emergency call contributed to police deeming the death as suspicious.

“3.37am was approximately the time emergency services arrived at the location,” he said.

“I’ve outlined Mr Crawford has assisted police with their inquiries and, to this date, we believe he’s the last person who had probably seen her alive that evening.

“That’s the information we have at the moment.”

Police also revealed on Friday that Mr Crawford had been messaging multiple women all over the world on dating apps.

“We believe there were women who were involved in relationships with Mr Crawford who may have information about Mrs Crawford that will assist with this investigation,” Superintendent Marchesini said.

“Mr Crawford may have met these women on dating applications, and through his personal and professional life.”

In early August, Queensland Police said they were treating Ms Crawford’s death as “suspicious” but on Friday said they are investigating whether she was murdered.

“Investigations are underway by the Crime and Intelligence Command Homicide Group and Gatton Criminal Investigation Branch into the circumstances that lead to her death,” Detective Superintendent Marchesini said, adding several lines of inquiry are being pursued by homicide detectives.

He said one line included the relationships they believe Ms Crawford’s husband, Robert, had with “multiple women”.

Mr Crawford was at the property on the night his wife died and has been assisting police since her death.

He has not been charged and he has not been named as a suspect.

Investigators revealed Mr Crawford had connected with women in Italy, United States of America, Papua New Guinea, Guam, Afghanistan, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand and every state in Australia except South Australia and Tasmania.

“We are particularly interested in speaking with people who knew of Frances or Robert Crawford and their personal circumstances, including their marriage,” Superintendent Marchesini continued.

He said a number of people had provided information since the last public appeal.

“The past few months have been extremely challenging for Frances’s family and her children, who are desperate for answers, and it’s time for those with information, no matter how small, to come forward,” Superintendent Marchesini said.

“There’s been extensive forensic testing and that includes pathology testing and, as a result of that, we can’t at this stage definitively determine how she’s come to be at the bottom of that retaining wall and it remains subject to the investigation.”

“She was located at the bottom of a retaining wall.

“The mower was located at the bottom of the retaining wall, along with Frances, who was deceased at the time she was located when emergency services arrived.”

Anyone with information that can assist with investigations and who had connections with the address or Mrs Frances Crawford or Mr Robert Crawford, as a couple or outside of the marriage, is encouraged to come forward and contact police.