The house in Bribbaree where 65-year-old Nerol Doble was doused in petrol and set on fire by her son, Shannon. Photo: Supplied.
CONTENT WARNING: The following story contains details that may distress some readers.
A Bowelfels man has admitted murdering his mother in a brutal attack that saw her set alight in front of a visiting relative at the family’s home in the village of Bribbaree, west of Young last year.
Shannon James Doble, 42, pleaded guilty last week in Young Local Court to the murder of his mother, 65-year-old Nerol Doble, who suffered burns to more than 90 per cent of her body after being doused with petrol and set on fire on 7 January 2024.
Mrs Doble had purchased her half-acre property in the small rural village in September 2022, moving into the modest three-bedroom cottage in early 2023. Shannon lived on the same property in a modified bus.
The visiting family member had arrived from Sydney for the school holidays on 2 January 2024 and, according to police facts, soon discovered relations between family members were strained, with escalating arguments between Mrs Doble and her son.
The trouble began over a seemingly trivial matter – a missing chuck key, a tool for a drill.
The family member witnessed Shannon’s growing agitation, recalling a chilling moment when he told Nerol, “I feel like killing you and [the visiting relative] and it’s got nothing to do with them”.
Later, Shannon confided to the relative that he would never hurt them, but added, “I feel like killing nan”. The family member told police they had urged him not to do anything he would regret.
The arguments continued over the next few days, with Shannon’s anger intensifying.
On 5 January, Mrs Doble travelled to Young to do the weekly shopping and purchased a replacement chuck key for her son.
The same day, Shannon phoned his stepfather, Mark Ciscaldi, yelling about Mr Ciscaldi and his “c— of a wife” for losing the chuck key. An apologetic Ciscaldi offered to purchase a new one.
“If I don’t get my chuck key, I’m going to burn the f—— house down,” Shannon warned.
He also threatened to burn Mrs Doble inside the house.
Mr Ciscaldi later told police he thought Shannon was just “blowing off steam; I didn’t think he’d actually do it”.
On the morning of 7 January, the situation spiralled out of control.
As Mrs Doble prepared to mow the lawn, she asked the visiting relative to speak to Shannon about the fuel can.
The family member approached Shannon, who emerged from his modified bus saying, “That’s my fucking fuel can”.
Mrs Doble then tried to reason with her son, but Shannon re-entered the bus, saying, “No, it’s my fucking fuel c—t.”
Mrs Doble told him he could leave her property.
Shannon emerged from his converted bus swinging a jerry can at Mrs Doble, striking her in the face and knocking her to the ground before striking her twice more in the head. His third attempt was thwarted by the relative, who stepped in between Shannon and Mrs Doble.
Bloodied and disoriented, Mrs Doble tried in vain to lift herself off the ground. Shannon then entered the house, dousing it with petrol from the jerry can and setting it ablaze, sparking a fire that rapidly consumed the property.
After exiting the house, he turned on his mother, forcing the relative aside and continuing to pour petrol over Mrs Doble.
The visiting family member tried to stop him. During the struggle, flames spread and the relative suffered minor burns.
After exiting the house, he turned on his mother, pushing the relative aside and pouring petrol over Mrs Doble as she lay on the ground.
The visiting family member who saw Shannon produce a lighter tried to stop him by moving between them. Shannon moved position and held the lighter to his mother. An explosion followed, engulfing Mrs Doble’s lower body in flames.
The relative was also caught in the fire, suffering burns to their legs before trying to douse the flames on Mrs Doble with a fly net and bucket of water.
Shannon then poured more petrol on Mrs Doble, intensifying the fire. The relative retrieved a hose and began hosing her, which extinguished some flames, but they told police they could see her injuries worsening.
Shannon left the property in his Toyota Hilux, heading east towards Young.
Thick smoke from the blaze was spotted from the nearby Rusty Horse Hotel by Nathan Murphy and Adam Saad, who rushed to the scene and helped drag Mrs Doble into a backyard bathtub filled with water and ice while waiting for emergency services.
Despite her injuries, Mrs Doble was conscious when paramedics arrived. She told them she had only wanted petrol for the lawnmower.
Mrs Doble was stabilised and flown to Royal North Shore Hospital, where doctors confirmed her injuries were not survivable. She died on 9 January 2024.
That evening, Shannon Doble drove to Parkes Police Station and handed himself in, saying, “I set the fire in Bribbaree.”
Upon being informed he was being arrested for arson and attempted murder, he asked, “Who did I try to murder?” When told it was his mother, he replied, “I can’t say I feel bad about that.”
A search of Shannon’s converted bus and Hilux uncovered prescription cannabis, a broken gel blaster and a lighter.
Fire investigators confirmed the blaze had been deliberately fuelled with petrol. A post-mortem later found Mrs Doble died from severe injuries from the fire.
On 3 September 2025, the matter returned to Young Local Court before Magistrate Sia. The Director of Public Prosecutions appeared for the Crown, while Shannon remained in custody, represented by a solicitor.
He pleaded guilty to murder (domestic violence) and assault occasioning actual bodily harm (domestic violence). A guilty plea was also accepted on the assault charge, while related matters, including damage to property by fire and possession of an unauthorised pistol, were referred to the Supreme Court of NSW.
The case has been committed to the Supreme Court for sentencing. Doble is scheduled for arraignment on 7 November in Sydney and is expected to appear by audio-visual link. His bail has been formally refused.
Original Article published by Edwina Mason on About Regional.
