How an ‘incident’ one year before RAAF pilot allegedly ‘staged his wife Frances Crawford’s murder to look like a lawn-mower accident’ could be key to the prosecution’s case
EXCLUSIVE
A RAAF pilot accused of murdering his wife had previously undergone marriage counseling after she became aware of his infidelity, police will allege.
Robert Crawford, 47, allegedly killed his wife Frances, 49, and moved her body to make her death look like a riding mower accident on their property in Upper Lockyer, southeast Queensland, at 3.40am on July 30 .
Investigators revealed shortly after her death that they will allege officers attended an incident at the property in July last year.
Police will allege that the incident prompted Ms Crawford to apply for an interim protection order, while she applied for an arrest warrant (AVO).
However, the AVO was rejected in court and the interim order quashed, police will allege.
Police will also allege that the couple sought the help of a marriage counselor after that incident.
Crawford was arrested on Thursday after police last week issued a public appeal for people to come forward as they revealed he had allegedly been messaging women on dating apps around the world and in Australia.
Frances Crawford, 49, was found dead on her property in Upper Lockyer in the early hours of July 30
Rob Crawford, 47, allegedly killed his wife and staged it to look like a lawn mower accident
Police will allege he had links with women in countries including the US, Italy, Papua New Guinea, Afghanistan, Guam, Japan, New Zealand and every state and territory in Australia except South Australia and Tasmania.
He has been charged with one count of murder (crime of domestic violence) and misconduct with a corpse by intervening.
Crawford was an RAAF Squadron Leader, operating from the Royal Australian Air Force base at Amberley, about 5 miles south-west of Ipswich.
Over the past twenty years, the family moved to various cities around the country, including Sydney and Adelaide, while he continued his career in the military.
Around 2015, the family returned to the Toowoomba region, where Mrs Crawford grew up, while her husband was stationed at the Amberley base.
Crawford featured prominently in RAAF media articles and magazines, which saw him traveling the world in service.
Police claim they were called to the couple’s home in Upper Lockyer (pictured) in July 2023
Crawford is pictured presenting an award at an ADF event
In 2014, he was pictured shaking hands with a U.S. Air Force lieutenant general during a training event in Missouri.
According to the article, Crawford chaired part of the event and spoke with U.S. counterparts about “breaking down barriers and the importance of greater cooperation among allies during the acquisition of technical systems and test programs.”
“The annual AATTC Symposium is an excellent forum to network with our international tactical air transportation partners and learn from each other,” said Crawford.
In another article from May last year, Crawford poses alongside junior pilots while overseeing a training exercise in North Queensland.
‘With the exercises we want to intensify the scenario and make it increasingly difficult. They are doing very well,” Crawford told the Townsville Bulletin at the time.
Meanwhile, as Crawford rose through the ranks of the Defense Force, Ms. Crawford served the community as a psychologist, providing therapy to adults, adolescents and children.
According to her biography on Toowoomba’s Quality Life Psychology Services website, she had “extensive experience” of working with a variety of mental health issues.
Her special interests include anxiety, depression, stress, panic, anger, grief, post-traumatic stress disorder, eating disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, chronic pain, parenting, protective behavior, and assertiveness.
A yearbook profile of Ms Crawford during her younger years has been shared online as tributes flow for the beloved mother-of-three
Crawford will be arrested by detectives on Thursday
Her death has left her loved ones and the Toowoomba region reeling, where she is remembered as a loving mother, beloved daughter, sister and friend and dedicated healthcare worker and valued member of her church and community.”
One woman described her as a “bright light” and “one of the most caring women I have ever known,” while another tribute said she was a “beautiful, kind, caring soul.”
A former classmate shared a touching blurb about Ms. Crawford and then Frances Pilon, which was written in a high school yearbook.
In the article, she was described as “quiet” and admired among her peers for her “poise.”
“Franny can generally be found at lunch, with her head in a science book, thinking about the next exam or in the home economics room,” the blurb reads.
Crawford has been taken into custody. His case will be heard at Ipswich Magistrates Court on October 25.
A GoFundMe has been launched to help her three adult children. To donate, click here.