Australian police officer charged with murdering missing couple

Couple Luke Davies and Jesse Baird have not been seen since Monday

An Australian police officer faces two murder charges for allegedly killing his former boyfriend and his new partner, whose bodies have not yet been found.

Beaumont Lamarre-Condon, 28, a New South Wales police officer, appeared in court on Friday charged with the murders of Jesse Baird, 26, and Luke Davies, 29.

The couple was last seen at Baird’s home in the eastern Sydney suburb of Paddington on Monday. Concerns for their safety arose when their bloodied belongings were discovered in a skip in Cronulla, approximately 30 kilometers (18 miles) away.

NSW Police Detective Superintendent Daniel Doherty informed reporters at a news briefing on Friday that blood was found at Baird’s home, along with a “projectile” and a fired cartridge case, all ballistically matched to a New South Wales Police firearm owned by the accused.

According to police, Lamarre-Condon, an off-duty senior constable attached to a specialist command, did not apply for bail during his appearance at Waverley Court on Friday.

The officer was apprehended when he presented himself at Bondi Police Station on Friday morning after his name was circulated in local media.

Baird, a former television presenter with Network 10, and Davies, a flight attendant, were identified by local media reports.

Lamarre-Condon was reportedly in a relationship with Baird. While Doherty refrained from commenting on a possible motive, he mentioned that the investigation will explore whether it was a “domestic-style incident.”

Neighbors reported hearing a loud argument early Monday morning.

According to Doherty, it will be alleged that Lamarre-Condon hired a van on Monday, which was subsequently used to dispose of the bodies. The van was discovered on Friday morning, but police have not disclosed its contents.

Authorities are appealing for public assistance in tracing the van's movements between Monday and Friday morning.

“It’s crucial we ascertain the movements of that van as it may lead us to locating the bodies, providing closure to the grieving families,” Doherty emphasized. “Their devastation is palpable.”

Doherty also noted that finding the bodies would provide vital clues regarding the circumstances of the men's deaths.