Cranebrook, Ashley Gaddie: Manhunt for alleged killer of woman, 31, he met on a dating app

A massive police manhunt is underway for a tattooed man accused of murdering a woman he allegedly met up with on a dating app. 

Ashley Gaddie, 33, is wanted over the alleged murder of Danielle Finlay-Jones, 31, who was found dead at a friend’s home in the outer western Sydney suburb of Cranebrook on Sunday afternoon, having suffered severe head injuries. 

Investigators are probing whether Ms Finlay-Jones and her alleged attacker met up at a pub at nearby Marsden Park on Saturday evening before heading back to the home.

The NSW Police Force published Gaddie’s picture on social media on Tuesday morning, revealing he was the subject of an outstanding arrest warrant over her death.

An arrest warrant has been issued for Ashley Gaddie (pictured) over the alleged murder of a woman found dead in a Cranebrook home on Sunday 

Pictured: Danielle Finlay-Jones 

Police tape surrounded a home on Borrowdale Way, Cranebrook, on Monday as homicide detectives investigate the death of Danielle Finlay-Jones

Detectives have so far been unable to find Gaddie.  

Gaddie is described as being of Caucasian appearance, about 180cm tall, of muscular build, with blue eyes and a bald head and tattoos covering both of his arms.

He is known to frequent Five Dock, Penrith and Mt Druitt.

Police believe Ms Finlay-Jones spent Saturday night with a man at The Marsden Brewhouse, in Marsden Park, in Sydeny’s north-west, where she introduced him to her friends. 

During the early hours of Sunday, she is believed to have returned to the property with the man. 

Police believe she died between that time and the mid morning from a severe head injury.

She was later discovered by friends who went to check on when the pair were planning to wake up, about 2.30pm on Sunday.

Forensic officers  investigate  suspected homicide amid warnings to be cautious when meeting strangers for the first time

Police officers spoke to forensics teams as they arrived at the property on Monday 

On Monday, Acting Superintendent John Nelson urged members of the public to be cautious when meeting strangers for the first time.  

‘For anyone who is meeting anybody, make sure that it is in a safe environment and you’re with friends in those initial meetings,’ he said.  

Superintendent Nelson said Ms Finlay-Jones was from another part of Sydney and they were probing how long she knew her alleged attacker. 

A forensics team paid special attention to a ripped fly screen at the front of the home.

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Supt Nelson said her family are devastated as ‘any family would be’.

Homicide Squad detectives and forensics teams were seen scouring the home for evidence on Monday and taking evidence away in brown paper bags. 

Friends arrived at the home to collect two dogs that had been left behind ther

Forensics officers collect evidence from a windowsill at the home in Cranebrook, in Sydney’s west

Two women arrived at the scene, with one seen entering the home to grab belongings 

The homeowner and friends stopped by the home on Monday to collect two dogs from the backyard. 

One woman screamed at reporters to ‘go away’ as they spoke to another woman sitting in a car across the road.

One neighbour told Daily Mail Australia she was shocked by the incident as the area is typically quiet.

‘It’s devastating. Just really sad,’ she said.  

She said the residents had only moved in a few months ago and seemed quiet. 

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