A 50-year-old man has been charged with the murder of his 80-year-old father, following a house fire in Croydon, Sydney, early on Wednesday morning. Emergency services arrived at the scene on Irrara Street just after 4am to find the residence engulfed in flames. Fire crews managed to extinguish the blaze, revealing the body of Ted Grantham, a local pastor, within the charred remains of the home.
Subsequently, authorities sought public assistance in locating Christopher Grantham, the son of the deceased, who was also living in the property. Reports surfaced that he allegedly threatened staff with a machete at a service station on Parramatta Road shortly after the fire, indicating he might be involved in a robbery. He was apprehended later that day at Woy Woy, which is situated north of Sydney.
During his arrest, police discovered a concealed machete on him. Christopher Grantham faces several charges, including murder, destruction of property intended to endanger life, and armed robbery. He has been denied bail and is scheduled to appear in court today. The tragic incident has sent shockwaves through the local community, as they grapple with the loss of a well-known figure in their midst.