A man has been charged with murder following an investigation into a fatal house fire Croydon earlier this week.
Emergency services were called to Irrara Street just after 4am yesterday (Wednesday 28 May 2025) and found a house well-alight.
Fire and Rescue NSW crews attended and extinguished the blaze with the body of a man located inside.
While yet to be formally identified, police suspect it is that of an 80-year-old man who lived there.
Officers attached to Burwood Police Area Command established a crime scene and made a public appeal for assistance to locate a 50-year-old man, who also lived at the home.
Police were later notified a man had allegedly threatened staff with a machete before taking cigarettes at a service station on Parramatta Road, Haberfield, about 4.20am yesterday (Wednesday 28 May 2025).
About 7.40pm the same day, the 50-year-old man was arrested by officers attached to Brisbane Water Police District at Woy Woy.
Police allegedly found a machete concealed in the man's pants during the arrest.
He was taken to Gosford Police Station where an arrest warrant was executed, and he was charged with murder, destroy or damage property with intent to endanger life – DV related, and armed robbery.
He has been refused bail to appear before Gosford Local Court today (Thursday 29 May 2025).
Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au Information is managed on a confidential basis. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.
