28-05-2025
Man charged with murder of Matthew Pascoe after body found in Gold Coast hotel room
A man has been charged with murder after the discovery of a body in a Gold Coast hotel room on the weekend.
Paramedics were called to the Hinterland Hotel in Nerang, where the body of 35-year-old Matthew Pascoe was found, at about 11am on Saturday.
Police said hotel staff found the Nerang local lying on his back next to a bed in room seven.
An autopsy on Tuesday determined he died from what police said were significant head and internal injuries, prompting detectives to launch a homicide investigation.
A 34-year-old Nerang man was charged with one count of murder overnight.
He is due to appear at Southport Magistrates Court this morning.
Detective Inspector Mark Mooney said on Wednesday that Mr Pascoe had checked into the hotel at 2pm on Friday with his mother, but that she left and did not return.
He said Mr Pascoe was subject to a court order prohibiting him from drinking alcohol at home, which was why he was staying at the hotel.
Mr Pascoe was last seen alive visiting the reception area at about 6:20pm, CCTV footage indicated.
Inspector Mooney said there were no obvious signs of a struggle in Mr Pascoe's room or any evidence of an obvious confrontation with anyone in the hotel.
Caitlyn Pascoe, Mr Pascoe's sister, said his death "left a hole in our hearts that truly can never be fixed".
"He always had my back and no matter what he was always there ready to protect his family," she said.
