The close friend of a woman allegedly murdered by a man she met on dating app Bumble has revealed her family are devastated after the young teacher’s accused killer was found dead in his prison cell.
Ashley Gaddie, 35, was found unconscious in his cell at the Clarence Correctional Centre, located on NSW’s far north coast, on Saturday afternoon.
He was accused of killing Sydney school teacher Dannielle Finlay-Jones at her friend’s home in Cranebrook, in Sydney’s far west, on December 18, 2022. She was found with serious head injuries.
Gaddie was in the prison common area yesterday afternoon before he was later found dead in his cell by prison staff, with it believed to be self-harm.
Sydney school teacher Dannielle Finlay-Jones (pictured) was allegedly murdered by Ashley Gaddie in December 2022 at a home in Cranebrook, in Sydney’s far west
Jamie-Lee O’Connor, a close friend of Ms Finlay-Jones, uploaded a heartbreaking message to Facebook on Sunday in memory of the 31-year-old woman.
“I refuse to let my newsfeed be flooded by someone who doesn’t deserve to be remembered,” Ms. Lee wrote.
“She will always matter, she will still make a difference. Her face deserves to stand alone.’
Ms O’Connor expressed her anger that Gaddie will never face justice.
‘It’s not great news, Dani’s family is in pain. He was about to plead. We wanted the plea first, then he (Gaddie) could have done this,” she wrote.
Ms O’Connor declined to comment on Gaddie’s death when contacted by Daily Mail Australia.
Gaddie, 35 (pictured) was found unconscious in his cell by prison staff at the Clarence Correctional Center on the NSW north coast on Saturday afternoon.
A close friend of Ms Finlay-Jones (pictured) took to Facebook on Sunday and uploaded a heartbreaking post in memory of the 31-year-old woman
Several social media users commented on Ms O’Connor’s post.
‘Beautiful soul. She has made a difference and will continue to do so, through those who love her,” one user said.
‘She remains important to many of us. Her heart touched everyone she met,” another user wrote.
Gaddie, a former tradie, and Ms Finlay-Jones met in December 2022 on an online dating app, believed to be Bumble.
The couple who had already had two dates, went to a pub in Marsden Park, in Sydney’s west, on December 17 so Ms Finlay Jones could introduce Gaddie to her friends.
The couple left the venue before midnight to stay with a friend of Mrs Finlay-Jones at her home in Cranebrook.
Mrs Finlay-Jones was allegedly murdered by Gaddie in a spare room in the property and police allege one of the residents was woken at 3am by what they described as ‘loud violent sex’ between the pair.
At 2.30pm the next day, friends of Mrs Finlay-Jones realized it was strange that they had not heard from the new couple since the night before.
One of her friends is said to have found Ms Finlay-Jones’ lifeless body lying on her back on the bedroom floor and she had suffered serious head injuries.
Police claimed she was killed during or after the “loud violent sex” the witness heard.
Ms Finlay-Jones (pictured) met Gaddie on a social media app, believed to be Bumble, in December 2022 before introducing her new partner to friends at a Marsden Park pub the night before she was allegedly murdered.
Gaddie fled the property by cutting a hole in the window screen but was captured by police in the NSW Blue Mountains three days later.
Serco, the operators of the Clarence Correctional Center, confirmed in a statement that Gaddie had died.
“A 35-year-old man passed away at Clarence Correctional Center on Saturday, April 6, 2024,” a spokesperson said.
‘The man was found unconscious in his room by staff and pronounced deceased at 4.04pm.’
Serco, Corrective Services and NSW Police are investigating the incident and a report will be prepared for the coroner.
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