Jesse Baird
{{Short description|Australian television presenter and umpire (1997–2024)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Use Australian English|date=February 2024}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Jesse Baird
| image = Jesse Baird.jpg
| caption = Baird in December 2019
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1997|09|04|df=y}}
| birth_place = Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2024|02|19|1997|09|04|df=y}}
| death_place = Paddington, New South Wales, Australia
| body_discovered = Bungonia, New South Wales, Australia
| burial_place =
| burial_coordinates =
| alma_mater = La Trobe University
| occupation = {{hlist|Television presenter|umpire}}
| years_active = 2017–2024
| known_for =
| notable_works =
| television = {{Plainlist|
}}
| spouse =
| partner = {{Plainlist|
- Luke Davies (2024)
}}
| parents =
| module = {{Infobox AFL biography
| embed = yes
| umpireyears1 = 2011–2016
| umpireleague1 = NFNL
| umpirerole1 = Goal umpire
| umpireyears2 = 2017–2019
| umpireleague2 = NEAFL
| umpirerole2 = Goal umpire
| umpiregames2 =
| umpireyears3 = 2020–2023
| umpireleague3 = AFL
| umpirerole3 = Goal umpire
| guernsey =
| careerhighlights = * 2018 NEAFL Grand Final
}}
| footnotes =
}}
Jesse Alan Baird (4 September 1997 – 19 February 2024) was an Australian television presenter and Australian rules football goal umpire.{{cite news |last1=Roberts |first1=Millie |last2=Stonehouse |first2=Greta |last3=Wakatama |first3=Giselle |last4=Hyland |first4=Jesse |date=23 February 2024 |title=NSW police officer Beau Lamarre-Condon faces court over murder charges of Luke Davies and Jesse Baird |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-02-23/nsw-sydney-search-warrant-balmain-two-missing-men/103501946 |newspaper=ABC News |access-date=23 February 2024 |archive-date=23 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240223093500/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-02-23/nsw-sydney-search-warrant-balmain-two-missing-men/103501946 |url-status=live }} Baird worked as a presenter and reporter on various Network 10 programs, including Totally Wild, Gamify and Studio 10. He officiated 62 matches as an Australian Football League umpire, including two finals.
Baird was shot dead the morning of 19 February 2024, alongside his partner. Former police officer Beau Lamarre-Condon was implicated in his killing. His remains were discovered on 27 February.{{Cite news |date=2024-11-19 |title=Fifty-page document handed to court as double murder case against former police officer delayed for 12 weeks |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-11-19/beau-lamarre-condon-lawyers-ask-for-three-month-delay/104619810 |access-date=2024-11-20 |work=ABC News |language=en-AU}}
Early life
Baird was born in Melbourne,{{cite web|url=https://aflua.com.au/jesse-baird-obituary/|title=Jesse Baird Obituary|date=7 March 2024|publisher=Australian Football League Umpires Association|access-date=7 March 2024|archive-date=7 March 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240307004508/https://aflua.com.au/jesse-baird-obituary/|url-status=live}} where he grew up in the north-eastern suburbs.{{Cite news |last1=Grubb |first1=Ben |last2=Cubby |first2=Ben |last3=Hornery |first3=Andrew |last4=Koziol |first4=Michael |date=23 February 2024 |title=Luke and Jesse: Happy young men loving life |url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/happy-young-men-loving-life-friends-pay-tribute-to-jesse-baird-and-luke-davies-20240223-p5f7e5.html |access-date=24 February 2024 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |language=en |archive-date=24 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240224010836/https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/happy-young-men-loving-life-friends-pay-tribute-to-jesse-baird-and-luke-davies-20240223-p5f7e5.html |url-status=live }} He graduated from Loyola College in 2015,{{Cite web |last=Kelly |first=Peter |date=5 December 2019 |title=Jesse Baird – new goal umpire in QLD |url=https://aflua.com.au/jesse-baird-new-goal-umpire-in-qld/ |access-date=24 February 2024 |website=AFLUA |language=en-US |archive-date=23 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240223152653/https://aflua.com.au/jesse-baird-new-goal-umpire-in-qld/ |url-status=live }} then achieved a Bachelor of Education degree from La Trobe University in 2019, majoring in drama and media.{{cite web|url=https://au.linkedin.com/in/jesse-baird-2367b0161|title=Jesse Baird|date=8 February 2024|website=LinkedIn|access-date=25 February 2024|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240223134832/https://au.linkedin.com/in/jesse-baird-2367b0161|archive-date=23 February 2024}} He moved to Brisbane in early 2017 to pursue a television career.{{cite news|last1=Borg|first1=Rebecca|last2=Smith|first2=Kaitlyn|last3=Salmon|first3=Pippa|url=https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/tributes-flow-from-victorian-friends-of-allegedly-murdered-former-tv-presenter-jesse-baird/news-story/9d7b94b6176230ac457302479ad5407d?amp&nk=acce866282ab56c5c30a9ae9d9b96f56-1708845176|title=Tributes flow from Victorian friends of allegedly murdered former TV presenter Jesse Baird|date=24 February 2024|website=The Herald Sun|access-date=25 February 2024|url-access=subscription|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20240224105457/https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/tributes-flow-from-victorian-friends-of-allegedly-murdered-former-tv-presenter-jesse-baird/news-story/9d7b94b6176230ac457302479ad5407d|archive-date=24 February 2024}} He moved to Sydney in 2023 for further producing and umpiring work.
Television career
Baird worked as a presenter and reporter on various Network 10 programs. In early 2017, he joined the cast of children's television series Totally Wild, remaining as a presenter alongside Stacey Thomson, until the show's final episode on 27 June 2021.{{cite web|url=http://tvtonight.com.au/2017/07/totally-wild-celebrates-25-years-on-air.html|title=Totally Wild celebrates 25 years on air|date=18 July 2017|first=David|last=Knox|work=TV Tonight|archive-date=20 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170720132132/http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2017/07/totally-wild-celebrates-25-years-on-air.html}}{{cite web|url=https://tvtonight.com.au/2021/06/i-know-a-lot-of-people-have-grown-up-watching-totally-wild.html|title="I know a lot of people have grown up watching Totally Wild"|date=30 June 2021|access-date=5 July 2021|first=David|last=Knox|work=TV Tonight|archive-date=30 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210630093528/https://tvtonight.com.au/2021/06/i-know-a-lot-of-people-have-grown-up-watching-totally-wild.html|url-status=live}} In 2019, Baird was announced as the host of Gamify, a game show which aired on 10 Peach.{{Cite news |last1=Symonds |first1=Kristy |last2=Price |first2=Amy |last3=Taemets |first3=Astrid |date=22 February 2019 |title=Baird game for a chance to realise his dream job |page=25 |work=The Courier-Mail |department=QConfidential |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=AUNB&req_dat=2FC64405CDC9450D8CE0F660AE4E730F&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F171BB7E344EF88D8 |access-date=26 February 2022 |archive-date=28 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240228005637/https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=AUNB&docref=news/171BB7E344EF88D8&f=basic |url-status=live }}{{cite web|last=Knox|first=David|url=https://tvtonight.com.au/2019/02/airdate-gamify.html|title=Airdate: Gamify!|date=21 February 2019|website=TV Tonight|publisher=TV Tonight|access-date=24 February 2019|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190224173605/https://tvtonight.com.au/2019/02/airdate-gamify.html|archive-date=24 February 2019}} He was also a red carpet reporter on Studio 10, until the program was cancelled in December 2023.{{cite news |last=Turnbull |first=Tiffanie |date=23 February 2024 |title=Jesse Baird: Policeman charged with murder of missing Sydney couple |url=https://au.news.yahoo.com/jesse-baird-man-charged-murder-032314874.html |website=Yahoo News |publisher=BBC News |access-date=23 February 2024 |archive-date=23 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240223093500/https://au.news.yahoo.com/jesse-baird-man-charged-murder-032314874.html |url-status=live }}
Umpiring career
Baird became an Australian rules football goal umpire in 2011 with the Northern Football Netball League, winning the NFNL's Most Improved Senior Umpire award and officiating the Division 1 Grand Final in 2015.{{cite web |title=Baird named for AFL debut |url=https://nfnl.org.au/baird-named-for-afl-debut/ |publisher=Northern Football Netball League |date=19 March 2020 |access-date=23 February 2024 |archive-date=23 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240223093905/https://nfnl.org.au/baird-named-for-afl-debut/ |url-status=live }} Baird moved to Brisbane in 2017 where he joined the NEAFL, umpiring Grand Finals in 2018 and 2019. In 2019, he was named the NEAFL Goal Umpire of the Year.{{cite web |title=Jesse Baird |date=4 February 2020 |url=https://aflua.com.au/dvteam/jesse-baird/ |publisher=AFL Umpires Association |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231204162115/https://aflua.com.au/dvteam/jesse-baird/ |archive-date=4 December 2023|url-status= dead}} In 2020, he joined the Australian Football League (AFL) list. He made his AFL debut officiating a match between {{AFL GC}} and {{AFL PA}}.
Baird won the Brian Pratt Medallion for most promising AFL umpire in 2020 and 2021. His fiftieth game came in round six of the 2023 season. He officiated 62 matches as an AFL umpire, including two finals.
Disappearance and death
Baird and his partner Luke Davies, aged 29, were last seen on the evening of 18 February 2024.{{Cite news |last1=Smith |first1=Alexandra |last2=Rawsthorne |first2=Sally |last3=McSweeney |first3=Jessica |last4=Sibthorpe |first4=Clare |last5=Duffin |first5=Perry |date=23 February 2024 |title=Police officer charged with murder of missing Sydney couple |url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/balmain-home-searched-in-connection-with-missing-sydney-couple-20240223-p5f77r.html |access-date=23 February 2024 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |language= |archive-date=23 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240223001957/https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/balmain-home-searched-in-connection-with-missing-sydney-couple-20240223-p5f77r.html |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/mysterious-texts-a-gun-and-dumped-credit-cards-the-trail-police-say-was-left-by-alleged-double-killer-20240223-p5f7d6.html |title=Mysterious texts, a gun, and dumped credit cards: The trail police say was left by alleged double killer |date=23 February 2024 |access-date=24 February 2024 |archive-date=24 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240224010837/https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/mysterious-texts-a-gun-and-dumped-credit-cards-the-trail-police-say-was-left-by-alleged-double-killer-20240223-p5f7d6.html |url-status=live }} Baird was scheduled to umpire an AFL pre-season practice match between {{AFL Syd}} and {{AFL GWS}} on 20 February. However, he did not arrive.{{Cite news |date=23 February 2024 |title='Deeply saddened': AFL left heartbroken over umpire's tragic death |url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-2024-tragic-deaths-of-jesse-baird-and-luke-davies-beau-lamarre-charged-for-murder-league-statement-latest-news/news-story/3fc27d9c9c5262077466fb99a8673565 |access-date=27 February 2024 |website=Fox Sports |language=en |archive-date=27 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240227102634/https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-2024-tragic-deaths-of-jesse-baird-and-luke-davies-beau-lamarre-charged-for-murder-league-statement-latest-news/news-story/3fc27d9c9c5262077466fb99a8673565 |url-status=live }}
On 21 February, bloodied clothes, a phone, credit cards, keys, and an $8,000 watch belonging to Davies were found in a skip in Cronulla.{{Cite news |last1=Rawsthorne |first1=Sally |last2=Baker |first2=Jordan |last3=McSweeney |first3=Jessica |date=23 February 2024 |title=Mysterious texts, a gun, and dumped credit cards: the trail police say was left by alleged double killer |url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/mysterious-texts-a-gun-and-dumped-credit-cards-the-trail-police-say-was-left-by-alleged-double-killer-20240223-p5f7d6.html |access-date=23 February 2024 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |language=en |archive-date=24 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240224010837/https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/mysterious-texts-a-gun-and-dumped-credit-cards-the-trail-police-say-was-left-by-alleged-double-killer-20240223-p5f7d6.html |url-status=live }} Police subsequently attended Baird's home in Paddington where they found upended furniture, a large quantity of blood, and a projectile and casing that allegedly matched a police firearm.{{Cite news |last=Taouk |first=Maryanne |date=23 February 2024 |title=What is known about the alleged double murder of Luke Davies and Jesse Baird |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-02-23/timeline-of-events-in-luke-davies-jesse-baird-sydney-murder/103504644 |access-date=23 February 2024 |work=ABC News |language=en-AU |archive-date=23 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240223071336/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-02-23/timeline-of-events-in-luke-davies-jesse-baird-sydney-murder/103504644 |url-status=live }}
Police alleged Baird and Davies were killed on the morning of 19 February. Shouting and gunshots were heard from the residence, and a 000 emergency phone call was made on Davies' phone, in which the operator heard a man shouting "get out, get out" before the call was disconnected. A police car was dispatched but drove down the street without stopping at Baird's house.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/feb/27/jesse-baird-luke-davies-alleged-murder-complete-timeline-beau-lamarre-bodies-found-van-nsw-police-gun|title=Blood, a hire van and a remote property: a timeline of the search for Jesse Baird and Luke Davies|date=27 February 2024|website=The Guardian|access-date=3 April 2024|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240313033232/https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/feb/27/jesse-baird-luke-davies-alleged-murder-complete-timeline-beau-lamarre-bodies-found-van-nsw-police-gun|archive-date=13 March 2024}}
On 23 February, New South Wales police officer Senior Constable Beaumont Lamarre-Condon, aged 28 and known as Beau Lamarre,{{Cite news |last1=Lock |first1=Samantha |last2=Bannister |first2=Maeve |date=23 February 2024 |title=Cop charged with murder, alleged victims still missing |url=https://www.aap.com.au/news/cop-charged-with-murder-after-disappearance-of-lovers/ |access-date=24 February 2024 |website=Australian Associated Press |language=en |archive-date=25 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240225224726/https://www.aap.com.au/news/cop-charged-with-murder-after-disappearance-of-lovers/ |url-status=live }} handed himself in to Bondi Police Station and was charged with two counts of murder.{{cite news |last1=McLeod |first1=Catie |last2=Visontay |first2=Elias |date=23 February 2024 |title=Sydney police officer Beau Lamarre charged with murder of TV presenter Jesse Baird and his partner Luke Davies |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/feb/23/jesse-baird-and-luke-davies-disappearance-police-raid-balmain-home-amid-search-for-tv-presenter-and-partner |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240223093500/https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/feb/23/jesse-baird-and-luke-davies-disappearance-police-raid-balmain-home-amid-search-for-tv-presenter-and-partner |archive-date=23 February 2024 |access-date=23 February 2024 |work=The Guardian}} Investigators allege Lamarre's crimes followed months of "predatory behaviour” towards Baird,{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/feb/27/jesse-baird-luke-davies-alleged-murder-complete-timeline-beau-lamarre-bodies-found-van-nsw-police-gun|title=Blood, a hire van and a remote property: a timeline of the search for Jesse Baird and Luke Davies|date=27 February 2024|website=The Guardian|access-date=3 April 2024|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240313033232/https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/feb/27/jesse-baird-luke-davies-alleged-murder-complete-timeline-beau-lamarre-bodies-found-van-nsw-police-gun|archive-date=13 March 2024}} with whom witnesses report Lamarre had falsely claimed to be in a relationship.{{cite news |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/beau-lamarre-condons-real-relationship-with-jesse-baird-before-sydney-double-murder/MFKTXAQEMNH67G6TVYDX4WFOAE/|title=Beau Lamarre-Condon's real relationship with Jesse Baird before Sydney double murder|date=26 February 2024|website=AAP Australian Associated Press|publisher=NZ Herald|access-date=3 April 2024|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240301121642/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/beau-lamarre-condons-real-relationship-with-jesse-baird-before-sydney-double-murder/MFKTXAQEMNH67G6TVYDX4WFOAE/|archive-date=1 March 2024}} Lamarre-Condon was remanded in custody to appear in court in late April.{{Cite web |last=Duffin |first=Perry |date=24 February 2024 |title=Cop charged with double murder of Sydney couple worked with students |url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/grim-wait-as-searches-stall-for-sydney-couple-murdered-by-police-officer-20240224-p5f7il.html |access-date=28 February 2024 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |language=en |archive-date=28 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240228132801/https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/grim-wait-as-searches-stall-for-sydney-couple-murdered-by-police-officer-20240224-p5f7il.html |url-status=live }} Lamarre purchased two surfboard bags, the same type in which the victims' bodies were later found; one on 17 February two days before the killings and one on the afternoon of 19 February.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/feb/27/jesse-baird-luke-davies-alleged-murder-complete-timeline-beau-lamarre-bodies-found-van-nsw-police-gun|title=Blood, a hire van and a remote property: a timeline of the search for Jesse Baird and Luke Davies|date=27 February 2024|website=The Guardian|access-date=3 April 2024|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240313033232/https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/feb/27/jesse-baird-luke-davies-alleged-murder-complete-timeline-beau-lamarre-bodies-found-van-nsw-police-gun|archive-date=13 March 2024}} He rented a white Toyota HiAce van from Mascot at 9:30 pm on 19 February.{{Cite news |last1=Brewer |first1=Peter |last2=Tindale |first2=Lanie |last3=McGuinness |first3=Anna |last4=Houlahan |first4=Anna |date=22 February 2024 |title=Police officer charged with murder of ex-TV host and boyfriend |url=https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/8531072/police-officer-charged-over-murder-of-luke-davies-and-jesse-baird/ |access-date=23 February 2024 |website=The Canberra Times |language=en-AU |archive-date=23 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240223104726/https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/8531072/police-officer-charged-over-murder-of-luke-davies-and-jesse-baird/ |url-status=live }} It was seen in Lambton on 22 February before being abandoned in Grays Point. Police alleged that the van was used to transport the bodies of Baird and Davies.{{cite news |last=Smee |first=Ben |date=25 February 2024 |title=Police investigate possession of police handgun allegedly used in murder of Sydney couple |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/feb/25/police-investigate-possession-of-police-handgun-allegedly-used-in-of-sydney-couple |work=The Guardian |access-date=25 February 2024 |archive-date=25 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240225081840/https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/feb/25/police-investigate-possession-of-police-handgun-allegedly-used-in-of-sydney-couple |url-status=live }}
On 27 February, Baird and Davies' bodies were found on a property in Bungonia, New South Wales, near Goulburn, following information from the accused.{{cite news |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-02-27/human-remains-found-baird-and-davies-police-search/103511262|title=Two bodies found in search for Sydney couple Jesse Baird and Luke Davies, police say|date=27 February 2024|website=ABC News|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|access-date=27 February 2024|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240227045658/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-02-27/human-remains-found-baird-and-davies-police-search/103511262|archive-date=27 February 2024}}{{cite news |last=Ritchie|first=Hannah|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-68410026|title=Jesse Baird: Human remains found in search for missing Sydney couple|date=27 February 2024|publisher=BBC News|access-date=27 February 2024|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240227045546/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-68410026|archive-date=27 February 2024}}
See also
References
{{reflist}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Baird, Jesse}}
Category:Television personalities from Melbourne
Category:Australian children's television presenters
Category:Australian television presenters
Category:Australian Football League umpires
Category:LGBTQ people from Victoria (state)
Category:21st-century Australian LGBTQ people
Category:Australian gay entertainers
Category:People educated at Loyola College
Category:La Trobe University alumni
Category:Formerly missing Australian people
Category:2020s missing person cases
Category:Missing person cases in Australia
Category:Deaths by firearm in New South Wales
Category:February 2024 crimes in Oceania