Sons of Woman Killed by Airbnb Guest Say Fire Destroyed Answers

The 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.

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.

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.

"We have to accept what we can get."

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.

The Airbnb guest

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

'Lived her dream'

Since their mother's death, Darcy and Harrison have taken over the property and hope to rebuild it in her legacy.

"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.