Jordan Hay: Townsville man from Vincent identified as alleged homicide victim

The alleged victim of a mystery homicide has been described as a “lovely young man” who worked at a high-profile entertainment venue in the Townsville CBD.

Townsville Police are appealing for anyone who may have seen this car, a Subaru Forester, on Friday evening, December 13 , or Saturday morning, December 14, to come forward. Picture: Supplied

The alleged victim of a mystery homicide has been described as a “lovely young man” who worked at a high-profile entertainment venue in the Townsville CBD.

“He had his head in the right space and he was heading in the right direction,” a man who described himself as a new friend said, his voice faltering.

“He was a good, honest kid; he was what you want kids to be.”

Sources confirmed on Thursday that the 21-year-old Vincent man was Jordan Hay.

The young man was found deceased in the backseat of his Subaru Forester on rural Webb Road, Woodstock at 8.45am on Saturday.

Queensland Police Service and Queensland State Emergency Service (SES) scour bushland in Woodstock, Townsville, in the search for a potential weapon allegedly used in the sudden death of a 21-year-old Vincent man Jordan Hay. Picture: Supplied

A man, 26, described as a life-long friend who was allegedly seen with the victim prior to the death, has been taken into custody in relation to an outstanding warrant and charges understood to relate to an earlier interaction with a truck driver at the roadhouse on Calcium Road, Flinders Highway, on Saturday morning.

He remains in custody and is next expected to appear in court in February.

No charges have been laid in relation to the alleged homicide.

Queensland Police Service and Queensland State Emergency Service (SES) scour bushland in Woodstock, Townsville, in the search for a potential weapon allegedly used in the sudden death of a 21-year-old Vincent man Jordan Hay. Picture: Supplied

Police and the Queensland State Emergency Service (SES) continued to scour land in the vicinity of Webb Rd and Dingo Park Rd on Thursday in the ongoing hunt for a potential weapon in relation to the ongoing alleged homicide investigation.

The recent acquaintance of the man he had known for the last six months only by his first name, “Jordy”, said he considered his new mate a “friend”.

Queensland Police Service and Queensland State Emergency Service (SES) scour bushland in Woodstock, Townsville, in the search for a potential weapon allegedly used in the sudden death of a 21-year-old Vincent man Jordan Hay. Picture: Supplied

He said the alleged victim worked as a “cellar man” at a nearby entertainment hub and was a regular at the Hotel Herbert.

“When he’d have his knock-off drink he used to come over (to the Hotel Herbert) and have a yarn with us for an hour or two while he was waiting for a lift home (from family members),” he said.

“On Fridays, while waiting for his lift home, he’d come over about 3 o’clock in the afternoon and have knock-off drinks until about 5.30 and we would share laughs and stories and what have you.”

He said the news was hard to comprehend.

“We (my partner and I) are not taking it very well at all mate, he had no choice in this,” he said.

“We don’t know what’s happened.”

He urged people with any information to come forward to help with the police investigation.

“He was a f--king excellent kid,” he said, adding that the young man was not into drugs.

“He had his head on his shoulders and was headed in the right direction.”

The assessment corresponds with details released by police during a news conference on Wednesday.

Detective Inspector Jason Shepherd is investigating a homicide over the weekend at Woodstock. Pictures: Supplied.

Detective Inspector Jason Shepherd, who is heading operation Whiskey Koba, said routine toxicology samples were taken from the victim during a post-mortem conducted on Monday.

“At this stage, it’s not expected that we will find drugs (in his system), this young person hasn’t really had any involvement with the police before,” he said.

“Unfortunately, it is very sad that we have a family now who will spending Christmas without their son (and) we want to try and get closure for that family and that’s why I wanted to put out another appeal to the public for anyone with any information to come forward.”

Townsville Detective Inspector Jason Shepherd, the officer in charge of Queensland Police Service operation Whiskey Koba, which is investigating the alleged homicide of Jordan Hay. Picture: Evan Morgan

Body-in-a-car mystery

Timeline

Saturday, December 14: A 21-year-old Vincent man is found dead in the backseat of his Subaru Forester on rural Webb Road, Woodstock at 8.45am

Sunday evening, December 15: Townsville Police confirm it is investigating the death, which it considers suspicious. Officers urge anyone who may have been in the vicinity of Webb Rd and Dingo Park Rd between Friday evening and Saturday morning

Monday, December 16: Detective Inspector Jason Shepherd, who is heading operation Whiskey Koba, says the victim was seen with a friend driving erratically on Friday night. The officer in charge of the investigation said that man was walking on Dingo Park Rd on Saturday morning when he was picked up by a member of the public and driven to the roadhouse on Calcium Road, Flinders Highway. Police allege he appeared to be under the influence of an intoxicating substance and behaving in a disorderly manner before he was arrested and charged with offences not related to the death

Monday, December 16: A post-mortem is conducted. Three homicide detectives arrive from Brisbane to help local investigators determine an alleged cause of death

Wednesday, December 18: Detective Inspector Shephard confirms police are investigating the death as an alleged homicide after establishing the alleged cause of death. Queensland State Emergency Service (SES) join police in searching for an alleged homicide weapon and other potential evidence. Police confirm that no charges have been laid in relation to the alleged sudden death

Thursday, December 19: The police search for an alleged weapon and other items, understood to be clothing, continues

Originally published as Jordan Hay: Townsville man from Vincent identified as alleged homicide victim