‘Superhero': How stabbing rocked community

Yahoo

6 hours ago

Zdravko 'Zed' Bilic was likely enjoying a peaceful Sunday night in, unwinding alone inside his beachside Warana home just metres from the shore.
But within hours, the 57-year-old would be fatally stabbed, allegedly confronting two teenage intruders. A horrifying act that has shattered his family, stunned the community and led to two boys being charged with murder.
Police allege Mr Bilic was confronted by two teenage boys, aged 15 and 17, who had broken into the Napalle St property about 11.30pm on July 13.
According to detectives, the boys stole the keys to Mr Bilic's car and, during a confrontation, stabbed him twice in the abdomen.
Mr Bilic's wife, skincare business founder Gry Tomte, was interstate on a business trip at the time and became concerned when she couldn't reach him. She asked a neighbour to check in.
What the neighbour found the following evening, about 7.30pm on Monday, was devastating: Mr Bilic's body lying on the front lawn. Authorities believe he may have been there for several hours.
Sunshine Coast Detective Inspector Chris Toohey told media the altercation appeared to have begun inside the house before spilling onto the front yard.
'As a result of that altercation, he received two fatal stab wounds,' Inspector Toohey said.
Mr Bilic, originally from Europe, was a deeply loved figure on the Sunshine Coast, known for his kind nature, volunteer work as a junior soccer coach and infectious positivity. His death has left a gaping hole in the lives of many.
His wife of more than two decades, Ms Tomte, has spoken openly about the unimaginable heartache she now faces.
'There is no way I can capture the immense grief I feel over losing the most beautiful man … he was my everything,' she said on social media.
In a formal statement released via police, she described him as 'the kindest, gentlest person I've ever known'.
'He was my entire world for 28 years … The world is a little less bright without him in it,' Ms Tomte said.
The heartbreak she now carries is shared across the community. Tributes have poured in from friends, neighbours and teammates from Mr Bilic's local soccer clubs, where he was fondly known as 'Zed'.
One teammate remembered him as a 'beautiful man with a smile and presence that would light up a room'.
Another said, 'You couldn't not like him.'
'His smile and his sparkly eyes made you comfortable the minute you met him,' they said.
As police scoured the Sunshine Coast and beyond, the investigation quickly led to two suspects.
Officers allege the teenagers committed multiple break-ins in the days prior to Mr Bilic's death, including properties in Brisbane and on the coast.
Using mobile phone tracking data, detectives followed a trail that stretched more than 100km.
The 17-year-old was arrested after getting off a bus in Toowoomba. The 15-year-old was apprehended in Chermside.
Police also claim to have recovered the knife believed to be the murder weapon that is undergoing forensic analysis.
Detective Inspector Toohey said the investigation was 'multifaceted' and ongoing, involving interviews with youths across the region to build a complete picture.
'We will allege two youths entered Mr Bilic's house on Sunday night in relation to a break and enter,' Inspector Toohey said.
'We are still talking to people around the community and a lot of youths around the Sunshine Coast.'
The teenagers were charged with murder and break-and-enter offences, with the matters mentioned in Maroochydore Children's Court on Thursday. Both were remanded in custody, with a committal mention set for September 10.
The court was told both boys came from troubled backgrounds. One is under his relative's guardianship, with both parents in jail.
The other is in the long-term care of the Department of Child Safety.
During the court proceedings, lawyers raised concerns over incorrectly signed DNA applications, one by a relative instead of a legal guardian. The applications were withdrawn and are expected to be refiled.
Under Queensland's 'adult crime, adult time' laws, introduced after the 2024 election, a juvenile convicted of murder faces a mandatory life sentence.
While the legal process begins to unfold, the community is still grappling with the loss of a man who was widely admired, loved and respected.
Ms Tomte recalled how Mr Bilic, who had recently moved with her from Melbourne, had a habit of stopping to help anyone in need, even lost dogs on the street.
'He was the kind of man who on several occasions would quickly detour when we saw a lost dog, whether on a bike or in a car, and without hesitation footy tackle them to stop them in their tracks to make sure we could get them home safely to their families,' Ms Tomte said.
She said he was an 'exceptional male role model' through his work with Ginger Sport, where he was loved by the children he coached across Sunshine Coast childcare centres.
'It was so clear to me and everyone who saw this that he was a superhero to the little kids he worked with,' she said.
'Whether we were walking on the beach, going to the mall, or visiting the zoo, there would always be a little, enthusiastic excited voice yelling 'Coach Zed, Coach Zed!''
In one of his public posts, Mr Bilic had written about how excited he was to start a new chapter of life on the Sunshine Coast after moving from Melbourne.
'There is a new chapter in our life and it starts with a move to the Sunshine Coast,' he wrote in March 2022.
'Definitely will miss the day-to-day Melbourne way … but we are super excited with our new adventure.'
That new chapter was cruelly cut short.
Police say Warana remains one of the safest parts of the Sunshine Coast, but this incident has rattled that sense of security.
'We pride ourselves on having, trying to maintain a safer environment for all our residents,' Inspector Toohey said.
'So (Mr Bilic's death) is a shock. It makes us more vigilant to maintain that level of safety and make sure that we hold the (alleged) offenders to account.'
Queensland Premier David Crisafulli and Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie offered their condolences. Mr Bleijie called the crime 'sickening'.
For Ms Tomte, no words can capture what's been lost.
'From the moment we met … we knew instantly we were each other's 'person',' Ms Tomte said.
'He was loved by more people than I can put into words. If you've had the privilege of being in Zed's presence, you'll know that he was literal sunshine.'