The NSW state government has taken action after Daily Mail Australia revealed a university student who killed his teen girlfriend had been using Tinder while being held in a forensic facility.
Jordan Brodie Miller was jailed for 20 years after being found guilty of murdering 18-year-old Emerald Wardle at Metford in the NSW Hunter Valley in June 2020.
Miller recently set up a Tinder profile, as well as opening an Instagram account where he stated: ‘Happy to be here’.
Miller had taken half an LSD tablet 11 days before he strangled his teenage partner, who he claimed had been ‘trying to suck the life out of me’.
The key issue at Miller’s Supreme Court trial was whether he killed Ms Wardle during a drug-induced psychosis or was experiencing symptoms of undiagnosed schizophrenia.
Miller was sentenced to a minimum 13 years in prison in October 2022 after a jury rejected the defence he had acted under a mental impairment.
But in April this year the Court of Criminal Appeal quashed the conviction after accepting that while in custody Miller had been diagnosed with schizophrenia.
The now 24-year-old has been held under psychiatric care at Bloomfield Hospital in Orange in the NSW central west and has recently been using Tinder and other social media platforms, as well as having supervised leave in the community.
Jordan Brodie Miller (right) was jailed for 20 years after being found guilty of murdering 18-year-old Emerald Wardle (left) at Metford in the NSW Hunter Valley in June 2020
On Sunday, a NSW Government spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia that Miller ‘has had Tinder usage and day leave revoked and immediate action was taken to ensure the community remains safe’.
NSW Mental Health Minister Rose Jackson has said she is reviewing this and other similar cases with a view to officially tightening the policy around social media use in such situations.
When the Court of Criminal Appeal unanimously found Miller was not criminally responsible for Ms Wardle’s death, the court sent his case to the Mental Health Review Tribunal to determine how and where he should be treated.
Miller remained in prison until he was transferred out of the Metropolitan Remand and Reception Centre at Silverwater in early September and became a forensic patient.
Women in the Orange region using the Tinder app said they have found Miller’s profile and matched with him.
Several warnings were posted on Facebook noticeboards alerting others about the killer’s presence on Tinder.
‘He is actively talking to girls while he is in a mental hospital for (killing) his last girlfriend,’ one post read.
‘Extremely concerning that he is on social media looking for girls already after what he done.’
A woman wrote under the warning post: ‘I matched with him then I read this so unmatched so thank you.’
Ms Wardle’s family said finding out Miller was on Tinder and other platforms, contacting young women while serving a sentence for murdering Emerald was ‘beyond belief’
Her aunt Kristy Smith said the family was shocked to find out what Miller was allowed to do online.
‘He is on dating sites and matching with young girls and that seems outrageous to us,’ she told The Sunday Telegraph.
In a private online message to Miller, a woman who knew Ms Wardle asked if he was going to tell the women was contacted about his dark past.
‘Do you plan on being honest with people you interact with,’ she asked.
Jordan Brodie Miller was jailed for 20 years after being found guilty of murdering 18-year-old Emerald Wardle at Metford in the NSW Hunter Valley in June 2020. They are pictured
Daily Mail Australia revealed Miller recently set up a Tinder profile as well as opening an Instagram account where he states: ‘Happy to be here’. One of his profile pictures is shown
‘I’m sure you’re a lovely person but I’m not having this conversation, all you need to know is that I was going through a psychosis at the time of the offence,’ he replied.
‘Very sad but true I wish it didn’t happen.’
The friend persisted, writing: ‘I just want to know this specifically with the social media situation because I know people who have seen you on Tinder etc.
‘Like do you plan on being honest with them and telling them who you are from the get go.’
He replied that he was ‘Not having this conversation like I said, but yes.’
Ms Wardle’s aunt wrote to NSW Attorney-General Michael Daley after finding out about Miller’s online activity.
‘It was highly upsetting to find out via social media that Jordan is now allowed the privilege of day release and is currently active on social media and dating sites where he is informing young ladies he will be available in nine months,’ Ms Smith wrote.
She said she was told it would be years before he was moved from prison and decades before he would be released and that the words ‘it’s not as if he will be walking the streets’ were used.
‘Could I please request that we as the family have answers to how and why Jordan has been allowed privileges such as day release and how he is allowed access to create social media accounts and dating profiles.’
Orange MP Phil Donato raised the issue in NSW Parliament.
‘The parents of young women would be appalled to know this unsuspecting threat exists, because the women may not know they are interacting with a killer,’ he said.
The NSW Government spokesperson said ‘The circumstances of this case are tragic.
‘We acknowledge the ongoing grief experienced by the loved ones of the young woman who was killed.
‘We absolutely understand the concerns raised and the distress this would cause to the victims’ family, friends and the community …
‘The NSW Government is aware of serious concerns regarding how these cases are dealt with and is considering changes in the area to improve how cases are handled to further ensure public safety.’
