Australian banker, Neil De Graaf’s chilling prediction before he incinerated himself, ramming his BMW into his ex-girlfriend’s house and setting the home ablaze
Jilted Aussie banker, Neil de Graaf, incinerated himself after crashed his car into his ex-girlfriend’s house in Queensland Australia
Before frying himself, De Graaf posted a haunting status stating he was ‘going to achieve something great this year’ a couple of days, prior
April Wilmot, 23, her 48-year-old mother, Tracey, 18-year-old brother Shannon McLeod and his 18-year-old girlfriend, hunkered down in a bathroom as De Graaf rammed his BMW into their garage
The flamboyant 37-year-old allegedly, poured accelerant around Wilmot’s family home before setting it ablaze, in a suspected attempted murder incident
Neighbours doused De Graaf with water after he fled the house on fire and collapsed on the front lawn
The father-of-four was put in an induced coma to treat burns to 95 per cent of his body, he died from his injuries
Neil De Graaf died from injuries he sustained trying to commit suspected arson
A jilted man who set himself alight after ramming his luxury BMW into his ex-girlfriend’s family home left behind a haunting message on his Facebook account.
Former Brisbane banker Neil De Graaf, 37, wrote ‘I’m feeling inspirational, like I’m going to achieve something great this year’ just two days before his death.
Mr De Graaf, who loved to boast of his lavish lifestyle and surrounded himself with younger women and flashy cars, had his life support switched off after suffering burns to 95 percent of his body.
He allegedly splashed two canisters of accelerant around his ex-girlfriend’s family home before torching it on Monday night as her terrified family cowered in a bathroom inside.
His ex-girlfriend April Wilmot, 23, her 48-year-old mother, Tracey, 18-year-old brother Shannon McLeod and his 18-year-old girlfriend were lucky to be alive after the father-of-four drove his BMW into their garage and set the house alight, police said.
Soul of the party, Neil De Graaf (center) wrote an ‘inspirational’ status just two days before died while trying to burn a family of four alive
De Graaf wrote ‘I’m feeling inspirational, like I’m going to achieve something great this year’ just two days before his horror pyrotechnics show
Four people were inside the house when De Graaf allegedly splashed accelerant around his ex-girlfriend’s two-storey family residence and set it alight.
Earlier on Saturday morning, Neil De Graaf seemed to be in control as he was posting an in-depth status about ‘positive mindset thinking’ and not letting ‘fear of failure control you,’ on social media.
‘I want to share success with those I care about and I want them to be successful too, whatever that looks like for you,’ he wrote.
‘Let me know if I can help in any way, to support you or help you be successful. I’m 100% genuine with this offer.’
The rather flamboyant father-of-four favored bespoke tailoring suits on any occasion and quite unabashed showing off his style. His handle on his many social media accounts are was George Clooney, going under the Instagram handle @cloonsgeorge.
His luxury BMW featured a personalized tag SU1T UP, after phrase made famous by the American sitcom, ‘How I Met Your Mother’.
The spurned lover rammed the home in his BMW, he then poured accelerant and set it on fire
He graduated from the University of Southern Queensland with a double degree in law and business, before going on to work in a senior role at a banking company. He was known to surround himself with stunning younger women and appeared popular among his friends as he kept a busy social calendar. De Graaf portrayed himself was a man who enjoyed going to social events at rooftop bars, music festivals and nightclubs, as well as taking selfies.
Suave De Graaf seemed in control with plenty of panache
And it seemed he had his life together, with a stable job and a loving family – but by Monday night, his mind had been warped.
Mr De Graaf initially dated 23-year-old April Wilmot as his family described the pair had been in an ‘on again, off again’ relationship.
His distraught aunt Margret revealed her nephew was ‘unlucky in love’ and he had tried to take his own life three times this year.
The break-up may have been too much for Mr De Graaf, causing him to crash through the garage of his former girlfriend’s home.
‘At the end of the day, I think that’s what basically caused all of this,’ Margret said.
In life, Neil De Graaf seemed full of zest but had to be put into induced coma after suffering burns to 95 per cent of his body, the life support was switched off after a few days.
Police said the 37-year-old rammed his car into the garage of the home of his former partner at Brookwater, Queensland on Monday night before pouring accelerant and lighting it, severely injuring himself. His ex, her mother, brother, and his girlfriend barricaded themselves in the bathroom when de Graaf launched the attack that ended in arson.
Police are investigating whether the attack on his ex-girlfriend and her family was an attempted murder – but his family has insisted he ‘wouldn’t hurt a fly’.
The popular De Graaf loved to surround himself with beautiful younger women
Ever the dapper man, De Graaf (left), favored custom suits on any occasion.
Wilmot was with her mother Tracey, 18-year-old brother Shannon and his 18-year-old girlfriend Casey when they were forced to flee the home. The family was lucky to escape with just minor injuries but Mr De Graaf had his life support switched off after he suffered burns to 95 per cent of his body.
April Wilmot was taken to hospital with a burn to her hand after all four occupants of the home broke free from the bathroom after Mr De Graaf set it on fire.
Her mother who was more seriously injured, was taken to hospital with burns to her legs and hands, before being released on Tuesday afternoon. The two 18-year-olds were briefly hospitalized with minor burns.
De Graaf’s family acknowledged he was responsible for his actions but the family was left to mourn a quick-witted, funny man she said had been “unlucky in love” several times.
They said his “on again, off again” relationship had affected his mental health. His mother Margaret said her son had been struggling.
“He tried to commit suicide (three) times this year …. he overdosed on many drugs,” his mother said.
“He wasn’t a monster.”
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