Ashley Gaddie: Close friend of young teacher Dannielle Finlay-Jones allegedly murdered by her Bumble date reveals family’s heartbreak after her cowardly killer was found dead in his prison cell

The family of a teacher allegedly killed by her Bumble date are devastated that he took his own life in his jail cell just weeks before he was set to enter a plea to his murder charge. 

Ashley Gaddie, 35, was found unresponsive in his cell at Clarence Correctional Centre, located on the far north coast of NSW, on Saturday afternoon. 

He was accused of killing Sydney school teacher Dannielle Finlay-Jones at her friend’s home in Cranebrook, in Sydney’s far west, on December 18, 2022. She was found with severe head injuries.

Gaddie was in the common area of the the jail yesterday afternoon before he was later found dead in his cell by prison officers, in what is believed to be a self harm.

A close friend of Ms Finlay-Jones, Jamie-Lee O’Connor uploaded a heart breaking post to Facebook on Sunday in remembrance of the 31-year-old woman. 

‘I refuse to let my newsfeed be flooded by someone who doesn’t deserve to be remembered,’ Ms Lee wrote. 

‘She will always matter, she will still make a difference. Her face deserves to stand alone.’

Ms O’Connor expressed her anger that Gaddie will never face justice.

‘It’s not great news, Dani’s family are hurting. He was about to plea. We wanted the plea first then he [Gaddie] could have done this,’ she wrote.   

Ms O’Connor declined to comment about the death of Gaddie when contacted by Daily Mail Australia. 

Several social media users commented on Ms O’Connor’s post. 

‘Beautiful soul. She has made a difference and will continue to do so, through those who love her,’ one user said. 

‘She continues to matter to many of us. Her heart touched everyone she met,’ another user wrote. 

Gaddie, a former tradie and Ms Finlay-Jones met on an online dating app, believed to be Bumble in December 2022. 

The couple who had already been on two dates, went to a pub in Marsden Park, in Sydney’s west on December 17, so that Ms Finlay Jones could introduce Gaddie to her friends. 

The couple left the venue before midnight to stay with a friend of Ms Finlay-Jones at her home in Cranebrook. 

Ms Finlay-Jones was allegedly killed by Gaddie in a spare room in the property and police claim one of the residents was woken at 3am by what they described as ‘loud violent sex’ between the pair.

At 2.30pm the next day, friends of Ms Finlay-Jones realised it was strange they hadn’t heard from the new couple since the previous night. 

One of her friends allegedly found Ms Finlay-Jones’ lifeless body, lying on her back on the bedroom floor and she had suffered major head injuries. 

Police alleged she was murdered either during or after the ‘loud violent sex’ heard by the witness.

Gaddie fled the property by cutting a hole in the fly screen of the window but was caught by police three days later, in the NSW Blue Mountains.

Serco, who are the operators of the Clarence Correctional Centre confirmed in a statement that Gaddie had died. 

‘A 35-year-old man has died at Clarence Correctional Centre on Saturday, 6 April 2024,’ a spokesperson said. 

‘The man was found unresponsive in his room by staff and was pronounced deceased at 16.04pm.’ 

Serco, Corrective Services and NSW Police are investigating the incident and a report will be prepared for the coroner. 

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