Mum’s sudden death a day after partner goes missing

A Toowoomba father went on a 150km ride on his distinctive Harley-Davidson motorcycle last week. A day later his partner had died and he was missing.

Toowoomba couple Derrick Hearne and Jenna Gallagher. Pictures: Facebook

A Toowoomba father, who went missing in bushland for four days, had left his partner at their Cambooya home a day before she died suddenly, to go on a 150km motorcycle ride.

Derrick Hearne, 43, had ridden his distinctive Harley-Davidson motorcycle east from the couple’s rental property last Thursday night, the day before his partner Jenna Gallagher died suddenly.

Derrick Hearne and Jenna Gallagher.

Mr Hearne’s family filed a missing-person report with police on Saturday after the body of 38-year-old Ms Gallagher was found.

Police are not treating Ms Gallagher’s death as suspicious and say the matter is a mental health issue with no charges laid and no arrests.

An extensive two-day air and land police search was launched after his motorcycle was found abandoned on the side of the road in the southside suburb of Ransome on Sunday.

Mr Hearne was found in bush near the Belmont Shooting Club on Monday afternoon and police took him to hospital for treatment.

The two posted photos on social media.

The couple had started a relationship in February and moved in together, with both posting loving notes about each other on Facebook as recently as September.

Ms Gallagher referred to Mr Hearne as “My fat Mexican security guard” and he posted selfie photos of the pair embracing.

The couple each had their own children and family members are helping to care for the children and prepare Ms Gallagher’s funeral.

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