SUSPECTED murder victim Patrick Plumbe was a member of a loving family who did not get to enjoy retirement, a Victorian police homicide squad member said yesterday.
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Acting Sen-Sgt Sol Solomon said the Glenrowan man had been a long-time Telstra worker.
“He was an uncle and had a loving family, he was just an ordinary guy that worked for 40 years, retired and was supposed to be enjoying his retirement,” he said.
Mr Plumbe, 61, died on April 28 last year.
He was found dead in his Mitsubishi ute, which appeared to have crashed into a tree and caught fire along Adams Track in the Warby Ranges, west of Wangaratta.
Country Fire Authority volunteers found Mr Plumbe’s body in the burnt-out car.
At first it was believed he died in the car crash and fire but police now say it was possible the crash scene was staged and Mr Plumbe may have been killed and the fire deliberately lit.
A murder investigation was announced this week after new information about Mr Plumbe’s death was given to police.
Sen-Sgt Solomon said Mr Plumbe had a brother and sister and they had taken the news of the murder investigation “pretty hard”.
It is believed Mr Plumbe worked in NSW for most of his life and was married for some time to a woman called Ann, who left a bouquet of roses and a note at the fire scene.
After retiring he moved to Glenrowan and lived in the town for about 18 months with his second wife, Margaret.
Police have said Mr Plumbe had no children.
A coronial inquest into Mr Plumbe’s death was adjourned for the police probe and permission has been sought from the Victorian Coroner for Mr Plumbe’s body to be exhumed and examined by a pathologist.
Sen-Sgt Solomon said with new information to hand, a pathologist may be able to find signs of injury previously missed.
On Monday night, no patrons at the Glenrowan Hotel eyeing a report on the investigation into Mr Plumbe’s death had met or heard of the former resident in their town.
