A father-of-two allegedly tortured and possibly killed was once the landlord of a man now accused of torturing him.
Andrew Burow owned a modest brick home in Logan Reserve, about 40 minutes south of Brisbane, Queensland, where he crossed paths with one of his alleged attackers, 7NEWS can reveal.
“He had interests in property and real estate,” Burow’s long-time friend Paul Seils told 7NEWS.
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“He was a moderate real estate investor ... He managed and looked after some properties himself.”
The 56-year-old and father of two was reported missing from Kelvin Grove in Brisbane on August 24 after no contact with family since August 21.
Two men — Billy John Howard, 26, from North Lakes, and 38-year-old Anthony Thomas Perrett from Sippy Downs — have been charged with torturing Burow between August 20 and 26 at a Kelvin Grove unit.
Court documents reveal mobile phone evidence, including photos of Burow “severely beaten” and an alleged FaceTime call showing him assaulted with weapons.
A property on Kokoda Av in Bli Bli, Sunshine Coast, was declared a crime scene after police found burnt items, zip ties and a note with Burow’s parents’ address in a fire pit.
Investigators said phone data places Burow with the two men in the days before his disappearance. Neither is charged over his death.
Howard, who was charged with torture, lived in the Logan Reserve house Burow owned.
Summer Marshall, a tenant at the property, said Billy and his partner lived there until August last year, sharing the home with her as housemates.
Burow visited multiple times to check on the tenants and often brought essentials for the home.
“He brought cutlery and plates. He was always welcoming, always open, willing to help anyone who needed the help,” she said.
“He understood that life happens, he knew you were going to pay him back.”
She also recalls Howard’s friend, Anthony Perrett, visiting frequently.
Perrett is also facing torture charges.
“They looked like childhood friends, people that have known each other for a long while,” she said.
Last week, investigators uncovered human remains in bushland on Brooklands Pimpimbudgee Rd at Maidenwell during their search for Burow.
Formal identification is still pending, with DNA test results expected next week.
Burow’s friends are struggling to comprehend how a man described as kind and compassionate could end up in such a violent situation.
“He was a very caring person,” Seils said.
“Cared about people a lot. Very kind, very compassionate, softly spoken ... Not a party person and didn’t do drugs.
“We’re shocked something like this could happen to someone like Andrew.”
“My mouth dropped, and my heart sank,” Marshall added.
Police are urging anyone with information that may assist the investigation into Burow’s suspicious disappearance to come forward.
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