Molly Ticehurst: Details emerge about moments after tradie Daniel Billings allegedly murdered Forbes mum – and the tip-off that led cops to his Fifield bolthole
A man accused of violating a restraining order and killing his ex-girlfriend fled to an old workplace where he often camped after allegedly killing the young mother in a late-night attack.
Daniel Billings, 29, is alleged to have killed Molly Ticehurst, 28, at the home they shared in Forbes, 137 kilometers west of Sydney, sometime between midnight and 1.50am on Monday.
Rather than return to his four-bedroom rental home in nearby Parkes after the alleged murder, Billings fled to a workplace in Fifield – a small town about 50 miles north-west of Ms Ticehurst’s home, with a population of just 126.
Billings was employed by an oil drilling company, Resolution Drilling, based in nearby Parkes.
Daily Mail Australia understands Billings was arrested at the Fifield location within hours because a local resident was aware of his arrival and raised the alarm with police.
On Wednesday, locals said the company had been setting up a reconnaissance platform in the area for several weeks and that Billings was known to be staying there in a swag.
Molly Ticehurst (in the photo with her son) was allegedly murdered by her ex-boyfriend on Monday
Daniel Billings (pictured) was arrested after allegedly killing Molly Ticehurst at her home on Monday
Pictured: A man showing where Daniel Billings allegedly killed Molly Ticehurst in Forbes, where he lived in Parkes and where he allegedly fled to in Fifield
The manager of The Fifield Hotel – the only business in the town – said Billings had once booked into a room at the pub with his colleagues, but had chosen to sleep in the workplace.
Speaking about the night of the alleged murder, a local resident said Billings did not know anyone in the Fifield area and the pub was closed in the early hours of the morning.
βHe didn’t know anyone in town, the pub was closed and we knew he had previously stayed there (at the drill site) in a swag,β the local said.
Another said Billings often talked to other bar patrons about his problems at home, and recently revealed he had been arrested and released on conditional bail on $5,000 bail.
Billings was charged on April 5 with three counts of rape, four counts of stalking and intimidation, two counts of destruction of property and one count of animal cruelty – all allegedly in connection with Ms Ticehurst.
The local said: ‘He came over a number of times and told us that he was having problems with his wife and that he was given a bail of five thousand.’
He then held up a large pink piggy bank in the shape of a penis and said with a laugh, “I joked that he should get used to this.”
The comment appeared to be a joke about the possible consequences of a possible prison sentence.
“When I first met him at the pub he was drinking rum and Coke, but lately he hasn’t been drinking and he’s ordering Gatorade,” the man said.
One of Billings’ bail conditions was that he not drink or use drugs.
Fifield (pictured) is a small town about an hour north of Forbes. The population is 126 and there is one pub
Forensic investigators are pictured at Molly Ticehurst’s home on Tuesday. The windows were destroyed
On Wednesday evening, the drilling company posted a link encouraging people to donate to White Ribbon Australia β an organization dedicated to ending male violence.
βIn 2024, we stand with White Ribbon Australia, which helps build a nation where every woman is free from all forms of violence and abuse at the hands of men,β the site said.
‘If you would like to help support this great cause, please click the donate button below. Any help is greatly appreciated and will make a big difference.β
Billings’ old boss, who Daily Mail Australia declined to name, said: “It’s really terrible what happened.”
“He is known to us, but it is not for us to comment and we must think of our employees who are currently struggling.”
Billings shared a rental property with other traders in the suburb of Parkes for about six months, surrounded by families.
The building was empty Wednesday with large sheets of aluminum foil covering the windows.
In the photo: Daniel Billings’ rental house. He shared it with other traders
The windows of Daniel Billings’ home were covered with aluminum foil to block out the sun
A neighbor told Daily Mail Australia the house was normally busy with men in high-visibility uniforms, but they rarely made noise and kept to themselves.
“They mainly worked night shifts,” says a neighbor.
“That’s why their bedroom windows were blacked out with aluminum foil so they could sleep during the day so we didn’t hear or see them much.”
Police searched the street for at least three hours Tuesday morning, asking neighbors if they knew Billings or had any interaction with him.
Billings and Ms Ticehurst dated for about 18 months until July last year, but briefly reunited in December.
At the time of the alleged murder, Billings was on bail following a number of assault charges relating to Ms Ticehurst.
He was also the subject of an apprehended violence order and banned from entering Forbes or approaching Ms Ticehurst or her workplace.
Billings had been out on bail for 15 days before he allegedly drove to Mrs Ticehurst’s home and killed her.
His case was referred to the Orange Local Court on Tuesday, with his bail revoked.
The case will be heard in court again on June 20.