'Loving' mum remembered after Airbnb guest found guilty of killing her

Darcy and Harrison Vermont in front of the house where their mother was killed. (ABC News: Tara Whitchurch) The sons of a woman killed by her farmstay guest in rural Victoria have spoken of their "devastating" loss. Timothy Loosemore was found guilty of manslaughter after Maree Vermont was found dead after a house fire in 2023. The case is due to return to court in September. Link copiedShareShare articleThe sons of a woman killed by her Airbnb guest say the fire that gutted her house also destroyed answers about their mother's final moments. Maree Vermont's remains were found in the ashes of her burnt-out living room in rural Victoria in August 2023. The 60-year-old lived alone in the stone house she had designed and built, at Goldie, 84 kilometres north of Melbourne. She and her ex-husband moved to the property in their 20s and raised their three sons there. As a trailblazing female surveyor, she had designed and built the house with her family using salvaged materials, a project that took three decades to complete. Maree Vermont inside the stone house during construction. (Supplied: Darcy Vermont) She had put the finishing touches on the lead light window trims just a week before she was killed and her pride and joy was set alight. "She adored the house and it was beautiful. She was really proud of her work," her son Darcy Vermont said. This month, a Supreme Court jury found 62-year-old British national Timothy Loosemore guilty of manslaughter but not guilty of murder. Timothy Loosemore is led into court. (AAP: James Ross) Darcy said it was "upsetting and distressing" to hear the jury's verdict. "It was an unlawful, violent assault that killed her, and then burning of the house meant there was not enough evidence to suffice intent of murder," he said. Harrison Vermont said with most of the family photos destroyed in the fire, it was important for them to reflect on their mother's life and work. "The loss is just devastating, especially to us kids. She was just … she was our mum. She was beautiful," Harrison said. Darcy Vermont says the verdict was "upsetting and distressing" to hear. (ABC News: Tara Whitchurch) The prosecution told the court Loosemore "snapped" after Ms Vermont rejected his desire for a relationship after they had a "brief sexual dalliance". He first stayed at the stone house in March 2023 through an Airbnb listing, then returned on and off to work on the 16-hectare property in exchange for food and board. Timothy Loosemore rode his bike from Perth to Melbourne after arriving from the UK in 2022. (Supplied) Darcy said his mum's pride in the stone house, as well as getting some help around the farm and extra income, drew her to list a spare room on Airbnb. Maree Vermont's stone house before the fire. (Supplied: Darcy Vermont) Harrison said the family never thought it would be dangerous for their mum to host guests. "Mum was a very social, loving, trusting person," Harrison said. "We weren't overly concerned but maybe that was a little naive or maybe we'd just been raised in a really loving environment," he said. Maree Vermont with her sons Harrison, Lachlan and Darcy. (Supplied: Darcy Vermont) Friends of Ms Vermont gave evidence during the trial she had told Loosemore he needed to move out, but he kept finding more work to do. Loosemore was the only other person at the property on the night of the fire, and raised the alarm with a neighbour. The court heard he told the neighbour he and Ms Vermont had an "argument", and at some point he had left the house to collect firewood and returned to find it ablaze. The kitchen in the stone house. (ABC News: Tara Whitchurch) Emergency responders told the court they smelt petrol coming from Loosemore or his clothes. Paramedics gave evidence he had blood on his face and hands, and the top of his hair was singed. The prosecution told the court Ms Vermont tried to defend herself on the night she was killed, with her blood found on Loosemore's clothes and scratch marks on his face. An autopsy was unable to determine the cause of her death due to the fire damage. Since their mother's death, Darcy and Harrison have taken over the property and hope to rebuild it in her legacy. Maree Vermont laying bricks at the stone house. (Supplied: Darcy Vermont) "She always had dreams, her and dad, of moving to the country and having a farm and a family," Darcy said. "She lived her dream the best she could." For more than 10 years, Ms Vermont had worked at a pharmacy in nearby Kilmore, was involved in yoga and travelled as part of a women's camping group. She had plans to visit her son Harrison in Tasmania and travel to Vietnam with friends. "She was such a happy and vibrant person … striving to just make the most of her life and be the best person she could for everyone around her," Harrison said. The case is due to return to court for a pre-sentencing hearing in September. Copy linkFacebookX (formerly Twitter)See more ABC co

'Loving' mum remembered after Airbnb guest found guilty of killing her

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