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Human remains found in search for missing couple

Human remains have been found at a second property in the search for Jesse Baird and Luke Davies.

Human remains have been found at a second property in the search for Jesse Baird and Luke Davies. Photo: TND / AAP

Two bodies have been found in surf bags at a new crime scene outside Goulburn in the search for missing Sydney couple Jesse Baird and Luke Davies.

The remains were discovered at a second property in Bungonia, about two hours south of Sydney, during a police search on Tuesday, based on information provided by the accused killer Beau Lamarre-Condon.

Police said the bodies, which they are confident are that of Baird and Davies, were located near the entrance to the property, partially obscured by rocks and debris.

“A driveway goes up to a property and a fenceline there and it’s off the side of the driveway,” said Detective Superintendent Danny Doherty at a media update on Tuesday afternoon.

“An attempt appears to have been made to cover the bodies with rock and debris.”

Police said the accused, Lamarre-Condon, 28, allegedly moved the bodies to this second location from another property in Bungonia which police had been searching since Sunday.

“What we’ll allege is that the accused went to the first property at Bungonia, as has been outlined, did go back to the property which was the first property that was searched and moved the bodies to the current location.”

The breakthrough came after homicide squad detectives visited the accused in Silverwater Jail and he revealed new information.

“And as a result of that, about 1:00 today, homicide squad detectives attended a location at Bungonia, about 20 minutes from the original search location, where they have located what they believe are the remains of Luke and Jesse,” said Doherty.

“There were two surf bags that have been found. And some debris and other items of interest of significance that are located.”

Investigators are yet to determine what links, if any, Lamarre-Condon had to the two properties.

He has been stood down without pay, Doherty confirmed.

“We will allege that this 28-year-old man acted alone, that he’s the sole person responsible for the murders of Luke and Jesse and he is the sole person responsible for placing their bodies at this location,” said Doherty.

Baird, 26, and Davies, 29, were allegedly murdered in the inner-city suburb of Paddington by serving police officer Beau Lamarre-Condon, 28, on February 19.

Lamarre-Condon remains in prison, held on remand as investigators piece together his alleged movements after the couple vanished.

NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb said it was an important day in the investigation and for the families of Baird and Davies.

“Today, this afternoon, detectives attached to Strike Force Ashfordby located a second crime scene in Bungonia which is a separate scene which they had been searching yesterday and earlier.

“And we believe we have located two bodies at that location. The families have been informed.

“And crime scene detectives have just arrived on scene at that location now where a specialist forensic investigation will take place.”

Investigators earlier Tuesday said canvassing was also continuing at Grays Point, in southern Sydney, while an “evidentiary search” had started at the Royal National Park off Sir Bertram Stevens Drive, near the intersection of Bundeena Drive.

Earlier, Webb said divers had finished their exploration of dams at the original Bungonia property, but officers were still conducting a line search in the area.

“We still believe that there is possibly evidence in that area that we don’t want to miss,” she told ABC Radio.

Detectives had believed the senior constable could have dumped the men’s bodies at the Southern Tablelands site, before returning later to move them to another, unknown location.

Webb said the crime scene was being treated as “anywhere between Newcastle and Bungonia and to the south of Sydney”.

“It is a massive area and without co-operation it is just old-fashioned police work to work through every single lead and every single piece of information to try and locate Jessie and Luke for their family,” she said.

Lamarre-Condon had been exercising his right to silence after receiving legal advice.

The senior constable is accused of using his police-issued firearm in the killing before disposing of the couple’s bloodied items in a skip bin at Cronulla, not far from Grays Point.

Police earlier on Tuesday confirmed a triple-zero call was made from Luke Davies’ mobile phone, rather than from Baird’s phone as previously reported, four minutes after neighbours heard gunshots at the Paddington house.

A patrol car was later sent searching for the source of the call, which was disconnected before anyone spoke.

But officers were unable to locate the user and did not attend Baird’s house at the time.

Investigators allege the crimes followed a months-long campaign of “predatory behaviour” by the charged officer, culminating in the fatal shooting.

Baird’s friend Isaac Muller said the former TV presenter and Lamarre-Condon were never in a relationship.

“Jessie briefly had an encounter with Beau,” he told the ABC’s 7.30 program on Monday night.

“He was not his ex boyfriend … they never were going out.”

Police allege Lamarre-Condon acted alone but divulged “partial admissions” to others before handing himself in, having travelled more than 1000km from Sydney to Bungonia and Newcastle in a rented van during his attempts to cover up the crimes.

Independent state MP and former police officer Rod Roberts questioned how the 28-year-old former celebrity blogger got a job with the force.

“His background in chasing celebrities doesn’t sound like it’s a fit for the police force,” he told Sydney radio 2GB on Tuesday.

Roberts said Lamarre-Condon’s supervisors and senior officers should have picked up any issues “much earlier”.

Webb said a police investigation would work through any issues surrounding the senior constable’s employment with NSW Police, including his recruitment and assessments “to see if there are any red flags”.

1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)

Lifeline 13 11 14

– with AAP

Topics: Crime
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