A professional accused of murdering a young teacher he met via a dating app was found dead in his cell.
Ashley Gaddie, 35, was found unresponsive in his cell at the Clarence Correctional Center on Saturday afternoon.
His death comes 16 months after police alleged he strangled Dannielle Finlay-Jones at her friend’s home in Cranebrook, in Sydney’s far west, on December 18, 2022.
“A 35-year-old man died at Clarence Correctional Center on Saturday April 6, 2024,” said a spokesperson for Serco, the operator of the maximum security prison.
Ashley Gaddie reportedly committed suicide Saturday at the Clarence Correctional Center around 3:15 p.m.
His body was found in prison 16 months after police alleged he killed Dannielle Finlay-Jones at Cranebrook in Sydney’s far west.
“The man was found unconscious in his room by staff and was pronounced deceased at 4:04 p.m.
“Serco, Corrective Services NSW and NSW Police are investigating the incident. All deaths in custody are subject to a coronary investigation.
Gaddie and Ms Finlay-Jones, 31, had met on a dating app and went on two dates before the evening of December 17 last year, according to police allegations.
Police say the pair attended a social event that evening at a pub in Marsden Park, where Ms Finlay-Jones introduced Gaddie as her new partner.
They left before midnight to stay with a friend of Ms Finlay-Jones at her home in Cranebrook.
The teacher was last seen alive when she entered a guest bedroom with Gaddie shortly after midnight, according to police.
One of the residents was awakened at 3 a.m. by what they described as “rough and loud sex” between the two men, according to police.
Pictured: The Cranebrook home where Dannielle Finlay-Jones was found dead on December 18, 2022
After three days on the run, police found Gladdie standing on the edge of a cliff at Fletcher’s Lookout in New South Wales’ Blue Mountains (pictured), where they finally coaxed him after a tense 12-hour standoff.
The next day, at 2:30 p.m., his friends realized that it was strange that they hadn’t heard from the new couple since the night before.
One of her friends reportedly found Ms Finlay-Jones’ lifeless body lying on her back on the bedroom floor.
Court documents revealed police alleged Ms Finlay-Jones suffered bruising to her face and officers found fingerprints on her throat.
Police said the teacher was murdered during or after the “rough and noisy sex” heard by the witness.
Gaddie and Ms Finlay-Jones met on a dating app
Gladdie fled the property by punching a hole in the window screen.
Two days after Ms Finlay-Jones’ murder, court documents show Gaddie called her mother.
“We slept in separate beds,” he allegedly told her.
“I didn’t do it, I panicked… I woke up at 9:30 and there’s a fucking body in the next room.”
After three days on the run, police found Gladdie standing on the edge of a cliff at Fletcher’s Lookout in New South Wales’ Blue Mountains.
After 12 hours of confrontation, he was arrested and then charged with murder.
Gaddie had a long history of violence against women.
The tradie was serving a two-year sentence for staking and choking a former girlfriend and was on bail for another assault at the time of Ms Finlay-Jones’ death, the Daily Telegraph reported.
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