The Project host Sarah Harris broke down in tears while paying tribute to late Studio 10 presenter Jesse Baird on Sunday night – just moments after it emerged the search for his body, and the body of his boyfriend Luke Davies, had extended to Goulburn, 200km south of Sydney, and that specialist divers had been deployed.
Harris’ tearful tribute followed the worrying development late this afternoon that the serving NSW Police officer accused of murdering Baird and Davies – Beau Lamarre-Condon – was refusing to tell investigations where their remains were located.
Speaking about the last time she saw Baird – who was a fill-in host for the recently cancelled morning show Studio 10 – Harris said Baird had ‘so much talent’ and had been telling friends Davies, whom he had recently started dating, was ‘the one’.
She broke down in tears while recalling how he would light up the Ten newsroom.
‘It’s been a really hard week for a lot of us right across the Ten Network. It’s hard to even talk about Jesse in the past tense,’ she said.
‘Jesse was more than just a colleague, he was a friend [and] like a little brother. He had this big beautiful smile [and] at 26 he was an absolute star… one of those kids that had a big smile, big talent and 2024 was supposed to be his year.
‘To Jesse’s family: he spoke about you often with so much love and we are just so sorry.’
The Project host Sarah Harris broke down in tears while paying tribute to late Studio 10 presenter Jesse Baird on Sunday night
Her tribute came just moments after it emerged the search for Baird’s body, and the body of his boyfriend Luke Davies, had extended to Goulburn, and that divers had been deployed
Harris said the last time she saw Mr Baird was a few months ago, in late 2023, and he had told her about a new job opportunity following the cancellation of Studio 10.
Detectives on Sunday returned to Mr Baird’s Paddington apartment in order to collect more evidence and were seen leaving with multiple brown paper bags.
It was also announced search parties were scouring waterways in Goulburn.
On Sunday night, police confirmed a crime scene had been established in the Southern Tablelands, near Marulan.
Divers were called in from the Marine Area Command in order to assist.
The site, believed to be a dam, is about 200km south of the Paddington home where police allege the couple were killed with Mr Lamarre-Condon’s police-issued gun.
The crime scene is one of multiple locations established as part of the investigation.
Previously the crews had been exclusively looking across Sydney and Newcastle.
Police allege Luke Davies (left) and Jesse Baird (right) were killed by serving NSW Police officer Beau Lamarre-Condon
Beau Lamarre-Condon, the former partner of Baird, is understood to be refusing to tell investigations where the bodies are located
Beau Lamarre-Condon – the NSW Police constable who allegedly murdered Baird, his ex-partner, and his new boyfriend Davies, is reportedly refusing to cooperate with officers as the desperate search for the men’s bodies continues.
Officers are working ‘around the clock’ to find the remains of Baird, 26, and Qantas flight attendant Davies, 29, two days an arrest was made over their deaths.
Lamarre-Condon, 28, has been charged two counts of murder and it is alleged he used his police-issued Glock in the killings.
Detectives and forensics officers are still scouring the state to find the bodies of Jesse Baird and Luke Davies
Lamarre-Condon is understood to have declined his fellow officers’ request to assist them in finding the locations of Baird and Davies’ bodies, reports The Australian.
Detectives and forensics officers have been scouring the state in search of where the young men’s remains might be.
On Sunday afternoon, NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb issued a heartfelt statement in which she called on the community to ‘have patience’ as police continue their investigation.
She also said she had been left saddened and shocked by the deaths.
‘I would like to extend my heartfelt condolences to the families and friends of Luke Davies and Jesse Baird. It is difficult to comprehend the grief and pain of their loss,’ she said.
‘I acknowledge this week’s events are distressing for many and I share the sadness and shock about the alleged nature of Luke and Jesse’s deaths.
‘I understand there are many unanswered questions and while I cannot comment on the matter before the courts, I can reassure Luke and Jesse’s loved ones, and the people of New South Wales, that we are working around the clock to find those answers.’
She also urged anyone with information to contact police.
NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb asked the community to ‘have patience’ with the investigation
On Sunday, it was reported by The Daily Telegraph that Lamarre-Condon had used Baird’s phone to text his housemates saying he was moving to Perth.
The texts were sent on Thursday, which initially led police to believe the former entertainment presenter was still alive.
A second message reportedly asked his housemate to put his belongings out on the street and said he would send cleaners to the home on Thursday.
Officers are now investigating the ‘decoy’ texts Lamarre-Condon allegedly sent from Baird’s phone which they believe were sent in a bid to conceal the alleged killings.
Police were first notified of the suspected homicide after they found the bloodied clothes and possessions belonging to Baird and Davies in a Cronulla skip bin on Wednesday.
They will continue extracting data from the phone as their investigation continues.
Mr Baird and Mr Davies were last seen last Sunday
Lamarre-Condon allegedly sent texts from Baird’s phone to his roommates saying he was moving to Perth (pictured Mr Baird’s apartment)
Earlier on Sunday, Ms Webb also issued an apology for the failings of police to ‘adequately and fairly’ investigate crimes committed against members of the state’s LGBTQI+ community.
The comments were in relation to the Special Commission of Inquiry into LGBTIQ hate crimes in NSW, which investigated whether gay hate bias was involved in the 34 suspicious deaths and unsolved deaths between 1970 and 2010.
Ms Webb acknowledged the ‘increased suffering experienced by victims and their families where the crimes were motivated by bias against members of the LGBTIQ community’.
‘To the victims and families that NSW Police failed by not adequately and fairly investigating those deaths between 1970 and 2010, I am sorry,’ she said.
‘I apologise for the gaps in those investigative processes where records and exhibits were lost or not examined with enough rigour.’
‘I realise that this has meant missed opportunities to identify possible offenders as new leads emerged or as new forensic advances became available.’
She also vowed that police do better.
‘I assure the LGBTIQ community that under my leadership, NSW Police will use these lessons to continue to improve the way it serves all members of the community with respect, fairness, and inclusivity,’ she said.
‘The mistakes of the past will not define our future.’
Independent MP Alex Greenwich told The Project Sydney’s gay community was ‘grieving’ in a moment that should be ‘a time of celebration’ as Mardi Gras begins.
Police are investigating whether Lamarre-Condon and Mr Baird’s recent breakup provided a motive for the alleged murder
Detective Superintendent Danny Doherty said no motive has been found but the relationship was an ‘obvious line of inquiry’
A motive for the alleged murders is still being considered and NSW Police Detective Superintendent Danny Doherty said on Friday Lamarre-Condon’s recent relationship with Baird was an ‘obvious line of inquiry’.
Officers are investigating whether Lamarre-Condon’s resentment over the break-up provided the Senior Constable with a reason to allegedly shoot the men.
Mr Baird and Mr Davies were last seen on Sunday night before heading back to Mr Baird’s Paddington apartment where it is believed that Lamarre-Condon murdered them.
The police issued gun was found locked away in a suburban police station safe after Lamarre-Condon checked it in and took sick leave on Tuesday.
Police searched the home of Lamarre-Condon’s mother, who also works with NSW Police as a probationary constable, and his stepfather on Thursday night.
Lamarre-Condon had worked as a youth engagement officer prior to the alleged murder and had recently told associates that he was about to begin training with the Protection Operations Unit.
The unit is responsible for the security of politicians, diplomats and other dignitaries.
