A 28-year-old police officer has been charged with the murder of Australian TV personality Jesse Baird and his boyfriend Luke Davies, who went missing earlier this week. The arrest follows a frantic search launched after bloodied items belonging to the couple were discovered in a bin near Sydney.
The suspect, Beaumont Lamarre-Condon, Baird’s ex-boyfriend, surrendered to police on Friday after being sought by authorities. While the bodies of the victims have not been located, detectives allege that the couple was killed inside Baird’s house in Paddington, Sydney, on Monday before their bodies were transported in a rented white van.
Witnesses reported hearing shouting and a verbal argument on the morning of the alleged incident, and CCTV footage captured the rented van at the scene that evening. A bullet matching Lamarre-Condon’s work-issued gun was found at the crime scene, along with a significant amount of blood and signs of a struggle.
Lamarre-Condon, a senior constable, failed to report to work the next day, and his gun was later found in a police station safe. Police seized blood-stained clothes, a phone, and credit cards from an industrial bin in Cronulla, as well as items from a house in Balmain. The suspect is also believed to have traveled to Newcastle following the alleged killings.
Despite Lamarre-Condon’s cooperation, investigators have yet to determine a motive for the crime. However, they noted that his relationship with Baird had ended a few months ago, indicating it as a potential line of inquiry.
Jesse Baird, a former presenter and red carpet reporter, and Luke Davies, a Qantas flight attendant, were well-known figures, and their disappearance has garnered widespread attention and condolences.
Lamarre-Condon, who joined the police force in 2019, had a previous career as a celebrity blogger and had interactions with numerous stars. He appeared in court on Friday afternoon and was denied bail.
The investigation continues as authorities appeal for information from the public to locate the bodies and ascertain the full details surrounding the deaths.
-BBC-
