Airbnb Guest Gets 17 Years for Murdering and Burning Host's Body After She Repeatedly Rejected Him

Timothy Loosemore has been sentenced to 17 years in prison for the manslaughter of his Airbnb host Maree Vermont, after a Victorian Supreme Court jury found him guilty over her 2023 death but not guilty of murder. He will be eligible for parole after serving 13 years.

The 63-year-old British-born man attacked Vermont after she rejected his desire for a continuing romantic relationship, before setting fire to her rural Victorian home, according to findings accepted by the sentencing judge. Justice Andrew Tinney said Loosemore was motivated by 'resentment and anger' over her rejection and deliberately burned the property to destroy evidence.

The case was complicated by the destruction caused by the blaze. Vermont's remains were severely damaged, meaning forensic pathologists could not establish precisely how or when she died, leaving the exact mechanism of her death unresolved.

Why Loosemore Received 17 Years

Justice Andrew Tinney sentenced Loosemore in the Victorian Supreme Court on Friday, 11 September, after considering the circumstances surrounding Vermont's death, the deliberate burning of her home, and his conduct afterwards. The judge rejected Loosemore's claim that he had no memory of what happened.

During the sentencing hearing, Justice Tinney noted that Loosemore did not appear to ask whether Vermont had been found or whether she was safe after the fire. Instead, his immediate concerns appeared to centre on himself, his bicycle, and his possessions.

The court also considered evidence of a physical altercation. Vermont's blood was found on Loosemore's clothing, while he had injuries to his face. The prosecution had argued that she was likely dead before the fire because there was no soot in her airways and no carbon monoxide detected in her blood.

How the Fire Complicated the Case

The destruction of Vermont's home created a major forensic challenge for investigators and prosecutors. Her remains were discovered in the ashes of the stone house she had built with her family over more than three decades. Because of the extent of the fire damage, forensic pathologists could not establish the precise mechanism of death.

The prosecution also presented evidence suggesting petrol had been used to intensify the blaze. Petrol components were detected on materials at the property, while petrol was also found on Loosemore's clothing and shoes.

Although Loosemore was convicted of manslaughter rather than murder, Justice Tinney considered the deliberate destruction of the property an aggravating feature when determining the seriousness of the offending.

The Relationship Behind the Prosecution's Case

Loosemore first met Vermont after booking accommodation at her Goldie property through Airbnb in March 2023. The arrangement later developed beyond a conventional guest stay. Loosemore returned to the property, where he exchanged work for food and accommodation. The pair also had a brief intimate relationship before Vermont made clear that she did not want a continuing romantic relationship.

Prosecutor Mark Gibson KC argued that Loosemore 'snapped' after being rejected. Evidence during the trial also indicated that Vermont had spoken to her son about Loosemore's reaction to her decision. Loosemore denied responsibility and maintained that he could not remember the events surrounding Vermont's death. His defence argued that the prosecution's case relied heavily on circumstantial evidence, particularly because the fire had prevented experts from determining exactly how Vermont died.

Family Left Without Answers

Vermont's three sons, Harrison, Lachlan, and Darcy, submitted victim impact statements describing the lasting effect of their mother's death and the destruction of the family home.

Harrison said the uncertainty surrounding his mother's death had left different scenarios playing in his mind repeatedly. Her sons also described the loss of photographs, personal possessions, and other belongings destroyed in the blaze.

The family home had been built over decades, making its destruction an additional loss for Vermont's children. What remained of the property became a physical reminder of their mother's death and the circumstances surrounding it.

Loosemore's 17-year sentence brings the criminal proceedings to an end with a manslaughter conviction rather than a murder conviction. However, for Vermont's family, the precise circumstances of her death may never be fully reconstructed because of the damage caused by the fire.