The bodies of slain Sydney couple Luke Davies and Jesse Baird have been found at a property in Bungonia, two hours south of Sydney near Goulburn.
“We believe we have located two bodies…the families have been informed,” said Police Commissioner Karen Webb on Tuesday afternoon. “We’re very confident that we have located Luke and Jesse.”
The bodies were found in two surfboard bags, covered in debris on a property on Jerrara Road in Bungonia, approximately 20 minutes away from another property that was searched on Monday.
“The state of the bodies won’t be known yet until an examination,” said Detective Superintendent Danny Doherty.
Police began their search at the second location about 1pm on Tuesday after being assisted by the alleged killer, senior constable Beau Lamarre-Condon.
“This is the first time he has willingly told us information,” said Assistant Commissioner Michael Fitzgerald.
On Tuesday, just before 7pm, The Sydney Morning Herald reported that members of the Baird and Davies families arrived where the bodies were found and were greeted by plain-clothes police officers. They left shortly before 7.30pm.
“I’ve spoken to both families, they’ve arrived from interstate,” said Webb at the press conference on Tuesday afternoon. “Each day, each hour was an agonising wait. So I am relieved for their families.”
Webb also used the press conference to clarify an earlier statement where she referred to the alleged murder as a “crime of passion”.
“The motive for the crime is not a gay hate crime but more one of that domestic nature. So I again say my apologies if that word upset people.
“It wasn’t intended that way, it was intended to distinguish it from a gay hate crime,” she said.
Lamarre-Condon remains in prison on remand as investigators work through a timeline of the alleged killings.
“What we will allege is that this 28-year-old man acted alone and he’s the sole person responsible for the murders of Luke and Jesse,” said Fitzgerald
“He’s the sole person responsible for placing the bodies of Luke and Jesse at this current location and that’s what we’ll allege.”
The timeline as alleged by the police is as follows:
On Thursday, February 15, Lamarre allegedly signed out his police-issued gun to perform overtime duties at a rally in the CBD, under a “user pays” system in which event organisers typically pay NSW Police for off-duty officers in uniform to boost security at events.
The following Monday morning, gunshots were heard in Paddington but not reported to police. About four minutes later, police say a triple-zero call was made from Davies’ phone.
But the call disconnected without any communication and police failed to find the right address after sending out a patrol car for a welfare check.
Lamarre-Condon then allegedly hired a Toyota Hiace van from a rental facility at Sydney Airport, which police say he used to move Baird and Davies’ bodies.
On Tuesday, Lamarre-Condon then allegedly made partial admissions about his role in the deaths of two individuals to an acquaintance.
Police allege he also used Baird’s phone to send texts appearing to be from him.
On Wednesday, Lamarre-Condon travelled to Bungonia with a female acquaintance, according to police.
The pair bought an angle grinder and padlock from a store in Goulburn before Lamarre-Condon used it to enter a rural property and left his female friend at the gate for half an hour.
It’s believed by police the pair came back to Sydney before Lamarre-Condon later that evening bought weights and went to move the bodies to the second location early on Thursday morning.
On that same day, Lamarre-Condon drove towards Newcastle where he met with an associate and asked to borrow her hose to clean his rented van.
There is no suggestion this acquaintance knew what Lamarre-Condon had allegedly done.
On Friday, he allegedly left Newcastle to drive to Grays Point – near the Royal National Park and where he was raised – before handing himself in to police the same day.
Lamarre-Condon is due to face court in April charged with two counts of murder.
On Tuesday evening, Qantas released a statement remembering Davies’ life.
“This is an incredibly sad time for those who worked alongside Luke Davies at Qantas,” said Qantas cabin crew executive manager Leeanne Langridge.
“Luke was a much-loved member of the Qantas cabin crew community in Brisbane and Sydney.
“He had a passion for travel, life, his family and friends and the customers that he served. He will be deeply missed.
“The whole team at Qantas are thinking of Luke and Jesse’s loved ones.”
If you, or someone you know needs support, Lifeline is available on 13 11 14.
Ben Grubb is the founder and editor of Gay Sydney News, an independent publication covering LGBTQIA+ news. A journalist with more than 15 years' experience, he has reported and edited for The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, WAToday, Brisbane Times, The Australian Financial Review, News.com.au, ZDNet, TelecomTimes and iTnews, primarily on the topic of technology. He previously hosted The Informer, a queer current affairs program on Melbourne’s JOY 94.9 radio station, and contributes to LGBTQIA+ media including Stun Magazine. Ben has also appeared as a technology commentator on Channel Ten's The Project, ABC RN’s Download This Show and commercial radio stations 2UE, 2GB and 6PR. Contact Ben: ben.grubb@gaysydneynews.com.au
