Sarah Harris reveals heartbreaking detail about Jesse Baird’s new relationship during tearful on-air tribute – as police announce major update in double-murder investigation and divers are deployed

Late Studio 10 presenter Jesse Baird was telling friends his new boyfriend Luke Davies was ‘the one’ before they were both allegedly murdered by Baird’s ex-partner Beau Lamarre-Condon, his former colleague Sarah Harris has revealed.

A tearful Harris shared the heartbreaking detail while paying tribute to Baird on Channel Ten’s The Project on Sunday night.

Her tribute came as news broke that the search for Baird and Davies’ bodies had extended to a waterway 200km south of Sydney, and that specialist divers had been deployed.

A crime scene has been established at a dam at Bungonia in the NSW Southern Tablelands near Goulburn, about two hours’ drive south from where the double-murder allegedly occurred in Paddington, in Sydney’s east.

The search by police divers was suspended later on Sunday night which will resume on Monday morning. 

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’.

She added: ‘He described [Luke] as “the one” to some of his closest friends. He was in love – and my heart just aches for not only Luke’s family but also Jesse’s family.’

She choked back 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.’

Harris recalled the last time she saw Mr Baird was a few months ago, in late 2023, when he had told her about a new job opportunity following the cancellation of Studio 10.

Fellow host Hamish Macdonald also extended his ‘love, thoughts and respect’ to both Baird and Davies’ families in the wake of their deaths.

Macdonald held his composure throughout the segment despite the words being ‘so difficult to find’.

‘I know particularly everyone involved would all like to send and share with you our love at this most difficult time,’ he said.

‘This is [supposed to be] gay Christmas, Mardi Gras, and these guys should have been having the time of their lives [but] I think it will be a very different Mardi Gras this year and at this particular moment.’

He assured viewers The Project would ‘watch to make sure that justice is delivered fairly, robustly and smoothly’ as the police investigation continues.

Detectives on Sunday returned to Baird’s Paddington apartment in order to collect more evidence and were seen leaving with multiple brown paper bags. 

It was later announced search parties were combing through a dam near Goulburn, about 200km from Sydney.

Police confirmed a crime scene had been established on Hazelton Road at Bungonia.

Divers were called in from the Marine Area Command in order to assist.

The site is about 200km south of the Paddington home where police allege the couple were killed with Lamarre-Condon’s police-issued gun. 

The dam is also 30km from the NSW Police Academy in Goulburn, where Lamarre-Condon trained to become an officer before he joined the force in 2019.

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. 

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.

Lamarre-Condon, 28, has been charged two counts of murder and it is alleged he used his police-issued Glock in the killings.

He is understood to have declined his fellow officers’ request to assist them in finding the locations of Baird and Davies’ bodies, reports The Australian.

Questions have also been raised as to why Lamarre-Condon had access to his gun after hours.

It’s understood Lamarre-Condon kept his police gun with him after doing an overtime shift at the pro-Palestine rally in the city last Sunday.

Police allege he fired the weapon at least once inside Mr Baird’s Paddington home sometime between midnight last Monday and 5pm that day.

Mr Baird’s ‘completely shattered) former colleagues at Network 10 Brisbane team also paid tribute on Sunday. It’s where he began his five-year stint with the network back in 2018.

Jesse was so much more than a colleague. He was a cherished friend who brightened every day with his positivity, cheeky winks and brilliant smile,’ post began.

‘He could handle anything from croc feeding to speeding down a river on water skis on live tv – anything to keep the audience entertained.

‘Through his roving reporter role he travelled the country and met hundreds of people from all walks of life. They were all without a doubt left a little brighter having been touched by his presence.

‘As his workmates and friends, we are completely shattered. Nothing was ever too much trouble. He worked so hard to make his dreams come true. He was up for anything and the life of the party always. It is quite simply impossible to overstate how much we adored him.’

‘Our hearts ache for his family, who he loved so much and spoke of often. We’re also thinking of Luke’s family and what could have been for both of them.’

Meanwhile, friends of the late couple have been laying bouquets of flowers at Mr Baird’s home as the investigation continues.

‘The least I can do is come and give some flowers to two beautiful boys,’ one friend told  Nine News outside the apartment.

‘I just hope that the boys can be brought home for their families to be laid to rest peacefully and respectfully.’

Earlier on Sunday, 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.

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.  

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.

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. 

Baird and Davies were last seen last Sunday night before heading back to Baird’s Paddington apartment where it is alleged 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 he was about to begin training with the Protection ­Operations Unit. 

The unit is responsible for the security of politicians, diplomats and other dignitaries.