Gold Coast councillor charged with murder: Ryan Bayldon-Lumsden arrested after stepfather found dead following ‘disturbance’

A Gold Coast councillor has been charged with murder following the death of his stepfather after a ‘disturbance’ in his family home.

Police were called to a house on Chiffley Pl in Arundel over reports of a fight just after 3pm on Wednesday.

Emergency services found councillor Ryan Bayldon-Lumsden’s stepfather, 58, unconscious, reported 7News.

Bayldon-Lumsden, 30, was arrested and charged with murder on Wednesday afternoon, Queensland Police confirmed in a statement. 

‘He has since been charged with one count of murder and is due to face Southport Magistrates Court today, August 24,’ police said. 

Gold Coast councillor Ryan Bayldon-Lumsden, 30, was arrested and charged with one count of murder on Wednesday afternoon, Queensland Police confirmed in a statement

The deceased man, who could not be revived by paramedics, is understood to be the de facto partner of Bayldon-Lumden’s mother.  

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The councilor was led away from the Arundel home by police on Wednesday wearing a blue forensic suit and paper bags taped over his hands. 

Bayldon-Lumsden serves in Gold Coast City’s Division 7 and was elected in 2020 as a first-time councillor. 

Just hours before the ‘disturbance’ – he shared pictures of a ‘Walk or Wheel Wednesday’ at Arundel State School, describing the day as ‘beautiful’. 

Neighbour Kim Thompson, who lives opposite the Arundel home, said her children had played with Ryan and his younger sister as kids. 

She said Bayldon-Lumsden was very active in the community and at the home, where he was seen ‘mowing the lawns and tending to the house’. 

‘My first fear was something had happened to Ryan because he is a beautiful, beautiful person, so I was hoping nothing happened to him,’ she told the ABC.  

‘He would be the one I know the most, he’s very active in the community in a really, really lovely way – everyone knows and loves him.’

The councillor was led away from the Arundel home by police on Wednesday wearing a blue forensic suit and paper bags taped over his hands

Detectives and forensic officers remained at the home overnight on Wednesday