Audrey Griffin disappeared on March 23
Authorities in southeastern Australia have made an arrest nearly a month after they found the body of a teenager who disappeared in the middle of the night.
Audrey Griffin, 19, was reported missing early in the morning on March 23 after being last seen on a road in Erina in New South Wales, the NSW Police Force said in a statement.
She had been on a night out when she disappeared, the Australian Associated Press and The Australian reported. Griffin spent the night with friends at Gosford Hotel, where she was until approximately 2 a.m., according to The Australian.
On the afternoon of March 24, authorities found her body in a creek, close to where she had last been seen, police said.
Her body was submerged in the water when it was found, per NBN News, ABC News AU and the Australian Associated Press.
Police initially considered her death to be non-suspicious, NSW Police Force said in their statement.
Last week, the Brisbane Water Police District announced they were looking for a man in hopes that he could offer them information about Griffin’s disappearance.
“We are not implicating that this man was somehow involved in the incident, we have no indication of that”, Detective Acting Inspector Samantha Richards said at the time. “We’re simply hoping he might have some information to help us piece together what has happened.”
They released a security camera photo of the man on their Facebook page; that post has since been removed.
It wasn’t immediately clear if the man in the photo, clad in a white cap, grey shorts and red t-shirt, is the same person who has been arrested.
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Investigators allege the suspect got into a physical altercation with Griffin before she was killed.
The 19-year-old was a rugby and water polo player, per the Australian Associated Press. She was also the former vice-captain of Central Coast Sports College, news.com.au reported.
In a GoFundMe set up after her death, Griffin was remembered as “the light in many of our lives.”
“Audrey touched everyone, not just in her community but all over the country,” reads part of the fundraiser. “There is no doubt she bought endless laughter and joy to everyone. She was the kindest soul to walk this Earth and will always be in our hearts.”
The NSW Police Force did not name the suspect; he was identified by the Australian Associated Press and 7News as Adrian Torres.
He has been charged with murder and 11 other unrelated domestic violence matters, NSW authorities said. He is being held without bail, and it wasn’t immediately clear if he has entered pleas.
His lawyer Bashaar Elkheir has said he is yet to determine how Torres could have come into contact with Griffin, the Australian Associated Press reported.
