‘Why?’: Family wants answers after Queensland dad bashed in his home dies

Jim Hill, 76, suffered significant head injuries during an alleged assault at his Hood Street home in Gatton on April 25 between 6pm and 7pm.

He was rushed to Toowoomba Hospital in a serious condition.

He appeared to be showing signs of recovery but his health deteriorated and he died from his injuries on Sunday.

Police have today launched a homicide investigation and appealed to the public for information.

Detective Inspector Heath McQueen said the suspect was believed to have entered through the rear of the house and assaulted Hill with “a bat or a blunt implement”.

He said a priority for investigators was to establish a possible motive.

“It’s too early to speculate at this point in time if it was a random attack or targeted attack,” he told reporters.

McQueen is appealing for anyone with CCTV or who was around Hood Street and surrounding areas at the time of the attack to come forward.

“He’s an elderly gentleman, in his own home…it’s horrendous,” he said.

Hill’s devastated daughter Tayla described her father as a larger-than-life character.

“You know, he’d been diagnosed with dementia only a couple of months ago. He lived pretty quietly these days,” she told 9News. 

“That’s probably the hardest part for the family … why?”

Hill issued an emotional plea for information to catch her father’s attacker.

“If you know anything, or seen anything that’s hugely helpful, whether you think it’s important or not,” she said.