Police find bodies of Australian couple allegedly killed by jilted police lover

MELBOURNE, Australia — Australian police on Tuesday found the bodies of a couple hours after the jilted police officer lover who allegedly shot them dead told investigators where to look, officials said.

The bodies were hidden under rocks and debris on a rural property. The remains of former television reporter Jesse Baird, 26, and his flight attendant partner Luke Davies, 29, were found in the same surfboard bags that police allege the killer used to carry the bodies from Baird’s Sydney home last week, said New South Wales Police Detective Superintendent Daniel Doherty.

The bodies were found at a property near Bungonia, 200 kilometres southwest of Sydney and 20 minutes drive from another property where police divers had scoured waterways. The breakthrough came when the suspect spoke to detectives on Tuesday and told them where to look.

Police arrested Senior Constable Beau Lamarre-Condon, who dated Baird until late last year, on Friday and charged him with murdering the couple. He had previously refused to answer police questions.

Police suspect LamarreCondon first dumped the bodies last Wednesday at the property that officers later searched. But fearing that a travelling companion might reveal where they went, he returned alone on Thursday to move the bodies. Police say the acquaintance, who has not been named, was unaware they were transporting bodies and was not an accomplice.

Detective Sergeant Sasha Pinazza, who is in charge of the investigation, said the search ended Monday without finding any clue to the bodies’ location.

“I am exhausted. I barely have eaten or slept. We went home last night extremely deflated, but it’s not in our nature to give up,” Pinazza said. “So we rallied again this morning and have come upon a wonderful result for the families.”

The allegation that a police officer committed a murder using his service pistol has shocked the country and prompted Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras organizers to ask police not to march at their annual parade this weekend.

Handgun ownership is highly restricted in Australia. Police are reviewing the gun handling procedures that enabled Lamarre-Condon to sign out his pistol to allegedly use in a violent crime while off duty.