Roger Dean was a registered nurse working at the Quakers Hill Nursing Home in Sydney, Australia. Prior to the incident, there were no widely reported criminal activities or significant red flags in his professional background. However, it later emerged that his resume had not been thoroughly checked by the nursing home administration, and he had not undergone a mental health assessment before being employed. Dean's actions on the night of the fire were reportedly an attempt to cover up his theft of prescription painkillers from the facility.

In the early hours of November 18, 2011, Roger Dean deliberately set two fires in separate wings of the Quakers Hill Nursing Home using a cigarette lighter. The fires quickly spread, leading to the deaths of 11 elderly residents and injuring several others. Dean initially portrayed himself as a hero, claiming he had helped evacuate residents. However, he later confessed to the arson, stating he wanted to destroy evidence of his theft of prescription drugs.

Dean was arrested on the same day as the fire and charged with multiple counts of murder. He pleaded guilty to 11 counts of murder and was sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole on August 1, 2013.

The tragedy led to significant changes in fire safety regulations for aged care facilities in Australia, including mandatory installation of sprinkler systems.