Two teenagers have been charged with the murder of the Sunshine Coast man found dead in the front yard of his home that he shared with his skincare mogul wife.
Zdravko Bilic, 57, was allegedly stabbed to death outside his Sunshine Coast home three years after he and wife Gry Tomte moved there to escape Victoria’s Covid curfews.
He is believed to have been stabbed twice in the stomach late on Sunday night after allegedly confronting a thief breaking into their $2.5million five-bedroom home in Warrana.
On Thursday morning, police charged two teenage boys, aged 15 and 17 with murder.
They are due to appear at Maroochydore Children’s Court later on Thursday.
Detectives believe his body lay in the home’s front yard for hours before his worried wife, who was interstate at the time, raised the alarm when she didn’t hear from him.
A neighbour found the horrific scene and alerted police about 7.30pm on Monday.
The glamorous couple, who were due to celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary next month, had relocated from Melbourne in 2022 to begin their ‘new adventure’.
‘I think two years of continuous lockdown and bull***t really took away the shine for me re Melbourne,’ Ms Tomte, 53, wrote on social media at the time.
‘We are both so happy we made the decision. And now friends can visit our beautiful new home.’
The lavish luxury home boasts a stunning lap pool next to the open-plan entertaining area and was just metres from the nearby beach.
It was a welcome escape from the bleak lockdowns in Victoria, and both said they were ‘so happy,’ with their new lifestyle.
‘I had the pleasure of calling Melbourne home for almost half my life,’ Mr Bilic, known as Zed by friends, posted on Instagram.
‘So many fantastic memories with beautiful family and friends at some great events and places.’
But he added: ‘The most important thing that Melbourne gave me is my wonderful wife. We are super excited with our new adventure.’
In March, they were still loving their new life as Queenslanders, with Mr Bilic adding: ‘What a fantastic time the last couple of months have been.’
Ms Tomte paid tribute to her husband in a statement on Wednesday.
‘He was the kindest, gentlest person I’ve ever known,’ she said. ‘Loved by everyone who ever had the fortune of meeting him.’
A crime scene has been declared at the home, with detectives seeking clues about the possible intruder.
‘His wife hadn’t heard from him and enquired with the neighbour, who discovered him deceased,’ Queensland Police Sunshine Coast Detective Inspector Chris Toohey said.
Mr Bilic was described as a ‘valued member of the community’ and his death has rocked the quiet coastal suburb.
It had been listed on the Red Suburbs website – which tracks danger zones across – as an area where crime ‘exists but does not impact most people.’
Norwegian-born Ms Tomte opened her successful HÜD Skin and Body clinic, which operates in both St Kilda and Northcote, in 2014.
Det Insp Toohey added: ‘As you can imagine, it is an extremely distressing time for her, but the community are rallying around her and doing what they can for her.’
Police are urging anyone with information or CCTV from the area, between 11pm on July 13 and 7.35pm on July 14, to come forward.