Condolences have poured in for the suspected Australian murder victims, Jesse Baird and Luke Davies, as relatives pay their respects at the site where their bodies were discovered.
Human remains were found inside “surf bags” on a rural property in Bungonia, located south of Sydney, bringing an end to a search that has captivated and dismayed the nation.
Beaumont Lamarre-Condon, a police officer, has been charged with the murder of the couple, allegedly using his work-issued gun. He has not yet entered a plea.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese joined others in expressing condolences to the families and friends of Mr. Baird and Mr. Davies.
“They were clearly vibrant individuals… this is an incredibly tragic incident,” he stated, acknowledging the emotional toll on the LGBT community.
A beach-side vigil took place in Sydney on Tuesday evening, where dozens of Mr. Davies’ friends gathered to pay their respects. Candles were lit beside a portrait of the 29-year-old, who had recently achieved his dream job as an international flight attendant for Qantas.
Online tributes for Mr. Davies describe him as a beautiful soul with a “lust for life,” a passion for travel, and a playful smile. One of his friends, Rory Grant, expressed disbelief at his passing, calling it a “tragic waste,” as reported by the Sydney Morning Herald.
“I am beyond devastated… you were one in a million,” Austin wrote on Instagram. Colleagues at Network 10 echoed the sentiment, describing him as more than just a colleague; he was “like a little brother.” Sarah Harris, the host of the current affairs show “The Project,” tearfully paid tribute on air, calling the 26-year-old an absolute star.
As the investigation unfolds, New South Wales (NSW) Police have provided a timeline of events surrounding the alleged killings of the Sydney couple in a series of press conferences this week.
Witnesses reported hearing “shouting” emanating from Mr. Baird’s residence in the inner-city Paddington area on the morning of February 19. At approximately 09:50 local time (22:50 GMT), gunshots were heard by neighbors, but they only reported the incident to the police several days later.
Following the gunshots, an emergency call was initiated from Mr. Davies’ phone but was swiftly disconnected. Police dispatched a patrol car to Paddington to investigate, but they were unable to pinpoint the call’s origin and did not enter Mr. Baird’s residence. It took an additional two days before items belonging to the couple, stained with blood, were discovered in a bin 28km (17 miles) away in Cronulla.
Subsequently, the police established a crime scene at Mr. Baird’s house last Wednesday, uncovering a “significant” amount of blood, overturned furniture, and a bullet from Mr. Lamarre-Condon’s work-issued firearm. Authorities also appealed for information and conducted a search at a family residence in Balmain.
On Friday, Mr. Lamarre-Condon surrendered himself to authorities. The former celebrity blogger, who had previously dated Mr. Baird, faced charges of two counts of murder.
Investigators claim that in the days following the alleged murders, Mr. Lamarre-Condon traveled extensively across the state in an attempt to conceal his actions, reportedly enlisting the unwitting assistance of at least two acquaintances. Shortly after the deaths, police assert that he rented a van to dispose of the victims’ bodies and sent messages from Mr. Baird’s phone, falsely notifying friends of his relocation to Western Australia.
Detectives initiated a search of a property in Bungonia after learning that Mr. Lamarre-Condon had visited it in the company of an individual described as an “innocent agent” last Wednesday. After tampering with a gate lock, Mr. Lamarre-Condon left the female acquaintance at the location, proceeded to drive the van onto the property, and returned after 30 minutes, according to investigators.
