Police are offering a $500,000 reward in hope of solving a 34-year-old cold case of a fatal fire in a boarding house in Ipswich.
Five men died when the the Oakdale Guest House on Milford Street was burnt to the ground at around 3am on Saturday December 29, 1990.
59-year-old Desmond Bemi, 64-year-old Trevor Ganter, 41-year-old Salvatore Tusa, 80-year-old Edward Boyne and 68-year-old Eldred Glode were killed in the fire.
Investigators today reopened the suspected arson case and will look at reviewing forensic evidence and re-interviewing up to 70 witnesses of their accounts of the fire.
Detective Senior Sergeant Tara Kentwell said she is appealing for any further witnesses to come forward to help with their investigation.
“With public assistance, irrespective of the passage of time, this crime can be solved, offenders can be brought to justice, and we can provide some answers to the family and friends of these five men and to the Ipswich community,” she said.
“Detectives believe there are two key events that will hopefully jog the memory of members of the public who have information that can assist police.
“A number of altercations occurred at the Oakdale Guest House on the evening of December 28, 1990, whereby men who did not reside there became involved in physical altercations with residents.
“It is alleged that one of the altercations stemmed from the theft of a packet of cigarettes from a resident’s room,” she said.
“We are seeking any persons who may have been directly involved or have knowledge of the physical altercations at the Oakdale Guest House that evening,” Detective Kentwell said.
Detective Senior Sergeant Kentwell said witnesses at the time observed a white Holden HQ sedan with a gold roof parked at the rear of the Guest House prior to the fire.
“This vehicle was reportedly involved in one of the altercations and then observed by a security officer near the Guest House, where two men were seen running towards the vehicle, away from the direction of the fire.
“We are seeking any persons who have knowledge of this vehicle being present at the crime scene to contact police,” she said.
“Although this offence occurred 34 years ago, Detectives believe there are still people out there who hold information crucial to this ongoing criminal investigation who have not come forward or have previously provided police an untrue account of events.
“Police urge Guest House residents or members of the public who hold such information to contact police.”
There were 27 bedrooms in the two-storey Guest House. On the night of the fire, 28 people were residing there, 18 on the upper level and ten on the lower level.
The fire spread quickly throughout the wooden structure, causing residents to flee from the building and jump from windows to escape.
Ipswich Criminal Investigation Branch immediately began an investigation, with statements taken from the surviving 23 residents of the Guest House and other witnesses.
A definitive cause of the fire was unable to be determined at the time.
Since that time, further information suggesting that the fire had been deliberately lit was provided to police, resulting in the 2024 review of this investigation.
To date, more than 400 enquiries have been conducted and 70 statements have been obtained.
The $500,000 reward is being offered for information which leads to the apprehension and conviction of the person or persons responsible for arson and subsequent murder of these five men.
In addition, an appropriate indemnity from prosecution will be recommended for any accomplice, not being the person who committed the crime, who first gives such information.
Anyone with information, no matter how small or irrelevant they think it might be, is urged to contact Crime Stoppers nationally on 1800 333 000 or online on the Crime Stoppers website.
