Australian Millionaire, Francis Pete Tovey, Killed by Homemade Suicide Robot

March 20, 2008

I usually don't cover suicides, as they are not crimes, per se, but the case you are about to read is so bizarre that I felt it was worth mentioning.

According to police in Australia, they were recently called to the million-dollar estate of Francis Peter Tovey, an 81-year-old Gold Coast man who allegedly committed suicide with the help of a robot. Details remain sketchy, but Australian media outlets have reported that neighbors heard three gunshots early Tuesday morning. When they went to investigate, they found Francis lying dead in his driveway. Not far from Francis's body was a robotic machine, armed with a semi-automatic .22 caliber pistol.

Francis, who lived alone, allegedly left behind detailed notes and plans that show he had spent considerable time researching robotics and had various plans, which he used in the creation of his "deathbot." According to Goldcoast.com.au, other notes found at the scene allegedly suggest Francis was upset because his family wanted him to move out of his house and into a nursing home.

Police have yet to release any images of the robotic machine. However, witnesses at the scene have described it as a "complex" machine, with the ability to remotely fire a gun. Prior to his death, Francis allegedly placed the machine in the driveway, layed down in front of it, and activated a robotic mechanism that fired three consecutive shots, each striking Francis in the head and killing him instantly.

"We would see him watering his garden and say hello, and he was always bright and cheerful," neighbor Daniel Skewes told Goldcoast.com.au. "We didn't know him well, of course, but he seemed like a really nice old man."

Related Article:
Son of Australian Millionaire, Francis Peter Tovey, Speaks Out About Father's Death

Comments

[jim]

wow. that is weird!

[Dennis Tovey]

David, I was wondering if you were interested in what actually happened.
Unfortunately the Gold Coast Bulletin reporter (who titles himself a police reporter) didn't check the facts before the first article was released, and jumped to several incorrect conclusions.
The second article the following day showed some actual interviews had taken place, but there were no apologies for, or admission of incorrect facts.
The way the article and its incorrect assumptions appeared have prompted an internal Qld police investigation, did this reporter get access to notes, etc. And we, Peters children were advised to get legal advise about suing the paper for slander, since the reporter had stated, (incorrectly) that we had been trying to move my father into a nursing home.

Somehow the reporter twisted the facts; - being that he was very upset about his girlfriend of 23years being put into a nursing home by her family, which he had been fighting on her behalf for a considerable time, how he had been told off by her family for interfering and he would only be allowed to visit her on certain conditions.

He was in fact still an able and capable man, in full control of his mental faculty and well loved by us and his grandchildren.

I won't go into more detail on this blog, but several other details are incorrect, the so called robot, the internet plans and what actually was on the "notes" for instance

After having this story splashed across the world, under "Killer Robot" and been vilified in so many posts worldwide, I feel perhaps the time has come to talk about it.

Your treatment of it seems fair, (although details are incorrect) so I have decided to begin with you.
Email me if you want to discuss this further.