Family and friends of missing Channel 10 presenter Jesse Baird have told police they are deeply concerned about his ex-boyfriend’s behaviour.
Baird, 26, and new boyfriend Luke Davies, 29, have not been seen or heard from since Sunday, while police charged his former partner on Friday Beau Lamarre-Condon, a NSW police officer, with two murders.
Baird, who was also an AFL referee, and Davies, a Qantas flight steward, were known as popular and kind-hearted young men, with tributes paid to the missing pair from their colleagues and friends.
NSW Police Inspector Danny Doherty did not suggest an alleged motive to reporters on Friday but said the relationship, which ended a few months ago, was an “obvious line of inquiry”.
He said there had been no ‘w’Reporting flags or complaints made to the police since the couple separated, but which have happened since in the course of their investigation “It has been documented that there was concerning behavior alleged by family and friends.”
“But that was never reported to the police,” he said.
Jesse Baird (left) and Luke Davies (right) have not been seen or heard from for a week
The Channel 10 presenter and his new partner (pictured) made their relationship public weeks ago, but friends and family have told police they were concerned about his ex-partner
Lamarre-Condon, 28, handed himself in at Bondi police station about 10.30am on Friday and appeared at Waverley Local Court that afternoon, where he did not apply for bail.
Before joining the police force, where he worked in an unspecified specialist group, he ran online celebrity blogs and tracked down Hollywood celebrities to take photos with them.
The move into the police force was not as unusual as it may seem, as his mother and sister were both officers in the NSW Police Force.
According to court documents, Baird and Davies were allegedly murdered by Lamarre-Condon at Baird’s terrace house in Paddington between 12.01pm and 5.30pm on Monday.
The shooting is said to have taken place just hours after they were last seen alive during a pre-Mardi Gras party at the Beresford Hotel in Surry Hills on Sunday.
Neighbors said they heard arguing from the Paddington house early on Monday morning.
Later Monday evening, Lamarre-Condon rented a white Toyota HiAce van from Mascot and allegedly used it to remove the couple’s bodies, police said.
A white Toyota HiAce which police believe was used to transport the bodies of Mr Baird and Mr Davies was located at Grays Point near Cronulla. In the photo it is being removed by the police
Constable Beau Lamarre-Condon (pictured) was charged with the murders of flight attendant Luke Davies and former Channel 10 presenter Jesse Baird
Detectives believe Lamarre-Condon returned the alleged murder weapon, a police-issue Glock pistol, to a locked gun safe at a police station on Tuesday.
He took sick leave from the NSW Police for the remainder of the day and was unable to return to work on Wednesday.
Police were first alerted to the missing couple after a worker found bloodied clothes and credit cards belonging to them in a Cronulla container on Wednesday.
They then went to Davies’ home in Paddington, where they found pools of blood and a shell casing from a gun which they have since linked to a police weapon.
In the early stages of the investigation, Baird’s friends told police they received text messages from him until after 11pm on Tuesday, leading police to suspect his phone had been kept and used after his alleged murder.
Lamarre-Condon was charged after handing himself over to police in Bondi following a massive manhunt (pictured, Lamarre-Condon is led away for questioning by detectives)
Police are searching Baird’s Paddington home this week for clues after his bloodied clothes and credit cards were found in a Cronulla container
Baird and Davies only made their relationship public a few weeks ago, posting photos on social media while visiting a Hunter Valley winery and attending a Pink concert.
Ten reporter Lachlan Kennedy said Baird was a popular figure in the newsroom.
“His talent was undeniable and energy contagious,” he wrote on X.
“For years we’ve talked about footy, utes and country music, so since I can’t find the words now, I’ll let Cody sing it.”
Kennedy added a link to American country artist Cody Johnson’s song, Til You Can’t.
Mr Baird has worked as a presenter at the network since January 2017, including on the children’s show Totally Wild and as a reporter for Studio 10.
10 News First presenter and Studio 10 colleague Narelda Jacobs struggled to get the words out when she reported on the alleged fatal shooting.
10 News First Midday presenter Narelda Jacobs struggled through a news segment on Friday about the alleged murders
The pair shared a photo of themselves attending a Hunter Valley winery and a Pink concert
“They are both much-loved men with a wide circle of loved ones, family and friends who adore them,” she said.
“Luke obviously has a huge support staff at Qantas, he was a flight attendant, and same for Jesse at the AFL and here at Channel 10.
“Our thoughts are with their loved ones, their colleagues, their friends and their families at this very traumatic time.”
Jacobs stumbled over her words during the report and her voice broke when she said there would be an update later on Friday.
She uploaded the clip of the news report to her Instagram and acknowledged that it was delivered “in a shaking voice.”
‘In honor of these two beautiful men on the darkest of days. Forever in our hearts, Jesse Baird and Luke Davies,” she wrote.
‘Our hearts are broken.’
National Affairs editor and presenter at 10 News First, Hugh Riminton, also described Mr Baird as a “much-loved young colleague” in a message shared with X on Friday.
“RIP my beloved young colleague, Jesse,” Riminton wrote.
‘Happy with a new man – and that, it is said, was the problem. Condolences also to the family and friends of Luke Davies. Lots of tears tonight.”
Channel 10 star Hugh Riminton also paid tribute to Mr Baird on social media, describing him as a ‘much-loved young colleague’ (pictured)
Colleague and veteran Channel 10 presenter Sandra Sully shared Riminton’s post with the caption “editors heartbroken,” followed by three broken heart emojis.
The AFL said it was ‘deeply saddened to learn of the disturbing news regarding referee Jesse Baird and his partner Luke Davies’.
The thoughts of the entire AFL family are with both Jesse and Luke’s families, as well as our refereeing and wider team.”
The statement described Mr Baird as ‘a popular and respected member of our AFL refereeing family’ whose career spanned 62 AFL matches, including two finals.
Ten colleague Abbie Chatfield also shared a touching tribute to Mr Baird, explaining that he was the first person she met when she started at the network.
The Australian media personality, TV presenter and radio presenter described Mr Baird as ‘lovely, friendly and funny’.
‘I am so devastated by the news about Jesse Baird and Luke Davies. When we worked for Channel 10 we all crossed paths,” she wrote.
“He was kind, friendly and funny and gave me the time of day when I was just a single girl and a lot of people didn’t really want to talk to me.”
Chatfield said she hoped “justice was served in the most serious way possible.”
“This is a huge loss not only for those close to the two men, but for the queer community as a whole. Rest in peace,” Chatfield wrote.
Baird was also a referee for the AFL and had worked more than 60 matches at the top level
Det Supt Doherty said police had traced a bullet cartridge found at the scene and there was other evidence he “couldn’t discuss”.
“(The cartridge) is now physically linked to a NSW Police firearm and forms part of the evidence for the alleged offenses to appear in court for this 28-year-old man.”
The bodies of Mr Baird and Mr Davies have yet to be found.
During his court appearance on Friday, Lamarre-Condon only looked up briefly to acknowledge the magistrate, and had no one in the court, family or friends, to support him.
Lamarre-Condon has not applied for bail through an attorney and is scheduled to appear again on April 23.