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- Organist identified as victim of fatal house fire
- Police are searching for his son
- READ MORE: Croydon house fire: One person dead
By CAITLIN POWELL FOR DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA
Published: | Updated:
A man has been charged with murder hours after his elderly father died in a suspicious house fire.
Emergency services were called to a home on Irrara St in Croydon, in Sydney‘s inner-west, about 4am on Wednesday.
Firefighters extinguished the blaze but later discovered the body of Edward ‘Ted’ Grantham, 80, inside the property.
Mr Grantham was an organist at the Hunter Baillie church in Annandale after a long career as a music teacher and lay pastor.
He and his wife Anne have six children and 18 grandchildren, according to the church’s website.
‘Ted was a much-loved and valued member of the church and wider community,’ church moderator Reverend Danny Ford told the Sydney Morning Herald
‘Our thoughts and prayers are with family, friends and us all as we grieve at this difficult time.’
Mr Grantham was also an elder of the Presbyterian Church of Australia.
Church organist and retired lay pastor Edward ‘Ted’ Grantham (pictured with wife Anne) was killed in a house fire early Wednesday
The intensity of the blaze at the Croydon home meant firefighters struggled to enter the property and were temporarily forced to retreat
Ted’s son Christopher Grantham (pictured) was arrested by police on Wednesday night and charged with murder
NSW Police launched a public appeal for assistance to locate a man, 50, they believed could assistance with inquiries
The man was identified by the Herald as Mr Grantham’s son, Christopher, who understood to be living at the home at the time.
He was arrested at Woy Woy on the NSW Central Coast shortly after 7.30pm on Wednesday night.
Christopher, who was known to police, spent the night being questioned by detectives.
He has been charged with murder, destroy or damage property with intent to endanger life, and armed robbery.
The cause of the fire is yet to be determined.
Police Superintendent Christine McDonald paid tribute to the combined efforts of police and specialist officers investigating the blaze.
‘This has been an intensive few hours to locate a man we believe can assist with our inquiries into what we allege is a suspicious fire, and I thank my officers and all other officers who provided their assistance,’ she said.
Mr Grantham’s wife, Anne, was not home at the time of the fire. She is assisting police with their inquiries.
The investigation under Strike Force Leverier continues.
Anyone with information or footage is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.
Ted Grantham has been remembered as ‘much-loved and valued member’ of the community
Parts of the roof collapsed as fire crews attempted to get the flames under control
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