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Police divers deployed in Southern Tablelands in search for Jesse Baird and Luke Davies

Police divers have been sent to a waterway about 200km from where police allege Jessie Baird and Luke Davies were killed.

A police officer allegedly sent texts from Jesse Baird’s (left) phone days after he allegedly killed him inside his Paddington home. Picture Instagram
A police officer allegedly sent texts from Jesse Baird’s (left) phone days after he allegedly killed him inside his Paddington home. Picture Instagram

The search for the missing bodies of Jesse Baird and Luke Davies has been expanded to another region more than two hours away from Sydney, after the couple were allegedly murdered by former police officer Beau Lamarre-Condon.

On Sunday night, police confirmed a crime scene had been established in the Southern Tablelands, at Hazelton Road in Bungonia.

Divers from the Marine Area Command assisted with the search which will resume on Monday.

Police established a crime scene at at Hazelton Road, Bungonia. Picture: Damian Shaw/ NCA NewsWire
Police established a crime scene at at Hazelton Road, Bungonia. Picture: Damian Shaw/ NCA NewsWire

The site, believed to be a dam, is about 200km south of the Paddington home, where police allege the couple were killed with Mr Lamarre-Condon’s police-issued gun.

The crime scene is one of the multiple locations established as part of the urgent investigation.

Police have continued to collect evidence at Mr Davies’ Paddington home, where investigators allege they found a projectile and a casing which was linked to a police-issued glock.

On Saturday, police officers also searched the waterways in the Newcastle suburb of Lambton, where it’s alleged Mr Lamarre-Condon travelled to on Thursday night.

Luke Davies (left) and Jesse Baird (right) were allegedly murdered by NSW police officer, Beau Lamarre-Condon. Picture: Instagram
Luke Davies (left) and Jesse Baird (right) were allegedly murdered by NSW police officer, Beau Lamarre-Condon. Picture: Instagram

Baird’s ex-employer shares heartfelt statement

Channel 10 – where Mr Baird worked as a reporter and presenter – has issued a heartfelt statement, remembering the 26-year-old as a “cherished friend”.

“Jesse was so much more than a colleague. He was a cherished friend who brightened every day with his positivity, cheeky winks and brilliant smile,” the statement read.

“He could handle anything from croc feeding to speeding down a river on water skis on live TV – anything to keep the audience entertained.

“Through his roving reporter role he travelled the country and met hundreds of people from all walks of life. They were all without a doubt left a little brighter having been touched by his presence.”

The statement, shared on social media, said he was “adored” by colleagues, who have been left devastated at the news of his death

“As his workmates and friends, we are completely shattered. Nothing was ever too much trouble. He worked so hard to make his dreams come true. He was up for anything and the life of the party always,” he said.

“It is quite simply impossible to overstate how much we adored him.

“Our hearts ache for his family, who he loved so much and spoke of often. We’re also thinking of Luke’s family and what could have been for both of them.

“Jesse & Luke, forever adored. Forever young and beautiful. Inside and out.”

The former entertainment reporter was remembered for his “positivity, cheeky winks and brilliant smile”. Picture: Twitter
The former entertainment reporter was remembered for his “positivity, cheeky winks and brilliant smile”. Picture: Twitter

Accused allegedly sent texts from victim’s phone

On Sunday it was also reported Mr Lamarre-Condon allegedly sent multiple text messages from the phone of one of his victims, suggesting he was moving to Perth, days after he was already dead.

Two text messages were allegedly sent from Mr Baird’s phone by Mr Lamarre-Condon, telling the alleged murder victim’s housemates he was moving interstate, according to The Daily Telegraph.

The messages reportedly led police sources to believe Mr Baird was still alive.

In the first message sent to Mr Baird’s housemates, Mr Lamarre-Condon allegedly said he intended to put furniture into storage as he was moving to Perth on Thursday.

In the second message he reportedly told the housemates to put the property, including a bed head, out onto the street.

The week before the text messages were sent, Mr Baird’s housemates had reportedly “kicked” him out due to the “messy state” he had left the Paddington property in and told the former entertainment reporter that cleaners would be coming to the property on Thursday.

The discovery of Mr Baird and his partner Luke Davies’ bloodied clothing and belongings in a Cronulla skip bin first alerted police to the couple’s suspicious disappearance on Wednesday.

Beau Lamarre-Condon reportedly sent two text messages from Jesse Baird’s phone days after he allegedly killed him.
Beau Lamarre-Condon reportedly sent two text messages from Jesse Baird’s phone days after he allegedly killed him.
The police officer has since been charged with two counts of murder following an investigation into the suspicious disappearance of the Sydney couple. Picture: NSW Police
The police officer has since been charged with two counts of murder following an investigation into the suspicious disappearance of the Sydney couple. Picture: NSW Police

Lamarre-Condon has since been charged with two counts of murder after he handed himself in to Bondi Police station on Friday morning.

A police source said the messages appeared to be “quite an amateur attempt at creating a story so people would not be suspicious when the victim never returned home,” according to The Daily Telegraph.

“They (the messages) made us think they were still alive,” another officer reportedly said.

Police will allege the celebrity blogger turned accused killer cop murdered the two men inside Mr Baird’s Paddington home sometime between 12am and 5:30am on Tuesday morning and used a hired Toyota HiAce to transport and dispose of the couple’s bodies.

The pair’s bodies have not been located but police will allege Mr Lamarre’s police issued pistol was used to commit the alleged murders.

Sydney Police are looking for the bodies former television presenter and his partner after Mr Baird’s Paddington terrace was declared a crime scene. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Monique Harmer
Sydney Police are looking for the bodies former television presenter and his partner after Mr Baird’s Paddington terrace was declared a crime scene. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Monique Harmer
Mourners have paid tribute and left flowers at the Paddington home where Mr Baird and Mr Davies were allegedly killed: NCA NewsWire / Monique Harmer
Mourners have paid tribute and left flowers at the Paddington home where Mr Baird and Mr Davies were allegedly killed: NCA NewsWire / Monique Harmer

Mr Lamarre-Condon was due to return to work on Tuesday but called in sick and failed to show up to work the next day.

The cops pistol, which was allegedly fired inside Mr Baird’s Paddington terrace, was checked back into a suburban police station on Tuesday.

The 28-year-old appeared before Waverley Local Court on Friday afternoon and did not apply for bail.

His case was adjourned to April 23.

Read related topics:Sydney

Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/national/nsw-act/crime/beau-lamarrecondon-allegedly-sent-texts-from-victims-phone-days-after-he-was-already-dead/news-story/59d0e9a3da4e81693330a05bb8ee3e37