presenter Jesse Baird was a rising star, a young man in the throes of a relationship with the love of his life, flight attendant Luke Davies.
The smitten pair recently appeared in an Instagram post together, both of them grinning at each other in colour-coordinated outfits at Pink’s concert in Australia, having just returned from a long weekend away together, the picture of love’s young bliss.
Days later, at the young age of 26, Baird’s life came to a shocking end, along with Davies, 29, in a tragedy that has rocked the world.
Earlier this week the couple became international news when their blood-covered possessions were found in a skip, after having been missing for days.
On Friday, Baird’s ex-partner Beau Lamarre-Condon, a police officer, handed himself in and was
Their bodies have yet to be located, and police have not confirmed a cause of death.
The tragedy has sparked an outpouring of tributes from their colleagues and loved ones as they struggle to come to terms with the horrific news.
‘He had a great spirit about him, the guy was loved by everybody,’ Network Ten senior editor Hugh Riminton told of Baird.
A friend of Davies, Rory Grant, called the flight attendant ‘a kind, beautiful soul with a cheeky smile and adored by his friends’.
Who is Australian TV presenter Jesse Baird?
Baird, 26, was an Aussie TV presenter and AFL umpire and worked at Network 10 for more than seven years.
According to his LinkedIn, he worked as a producer there too with his current role listed as a Producer on Studio 10 at Paramount.
He had previously worked as a TV presenter and producer for children’s TV series Totally Wild and as a host on Gamify in 2018.
He described himself as a ‘professional and driven television presenter and producer who enjoys working with large teams of people, writing and presenting creative and engaging content, and learning about new places and people.’
On Instagram, Baird shared glimpses into his private and professional lives, sharing numerous pics with Davies as well as recent snaps at the GQ Men of the Year Awards, on red carpets, and behind-the-scenes filming in studios.
As well as his TV roles, Baird worked as a goal umpire for the American Football League, who devastatingly confirmed that he failed to show up for his scheduled duties this week, after going missing.
He has officiated in 62 AFL matches, according to MailOnline, and joined the umpiring list in 2020.
The organisation paid tribute on X, saying: ‘The AFL is deeply saddened to learn of the distressing news today regarding umpire Jesse Baird and his partner Luke Davies. The entire AFL family’s thoughts are with both Jesse and Luke’s families, as well as our umpiring and broader team during this very difficult time.’
Davies, 29, was a Qantas flight attendant, with the company paying tribute to him and writing: ‘Our thoughts are with family, friends and colleagues of our crew member at this very difficult time.’
When did Jesse Baird go missing with boyfriend Luke Davies?
It had been reported that a search for Baird and Davies began earlier this week after bloody clothes belonging to them were found in a skip.
The police force had previously released a statement that outlined that they were appealing ‘for information as they investigate the suspicious disappearance of a man from Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs’.
They said: ‘Possessions belonging to 29-year-old Luke Davies and another man were found just after 11am yesterday (Wednesday 21 February 2024), in a skip-bin on Wilbar Avenue, Cronulla.
‘Police then attended Luke’s home in Waterloo, but he has not been located and his disappearance is being treated as suspicious.
‘Investigators are now trying to determine the location of a 26-year-old man, who they believe can assist with inquiries.’
Eastern Suburbs Commander Detective Superintendent Jodi Radmore said that ‘unusual items’ found in a bin at Club Cronulla, a club in Australia, were reported to police, including credit cards, keys and a mobile phone.
After finding these items, the police are then said to have gone to Baird’s house, where they found upended furniture and blood, the latter of which indicated a serious injury.
‘We do believe there has been some sort of incident that likely occurred at the Paddington address (on Monday morning),’ Superintendent Radmore said.
‘Witnesses described it as a verbal argument. It wasn’t reported to police at the time.’
The Superintendent continued: ‘Their final movements are still under investigation,’ adding that police could not confirm as of yet if either of the men had met with foul play.
Lamarre-Condon handed himself in earlier today to colleagues in New South Wales, after a bullet matching his work-issued gun was found at the scene.
