A man accused of violating a restraining order and murdering his ex-girlfriend fled to a former workplace where he used to camp, after allegedly killing the young mother in a late-night attack.
Daniel Billings, 29, allegedly murdered Molly Ticehurst, 28, at the home they used to share in Forbes, 137 kilometers west of Sydney, sometime between midnight and 1.50am on Monday.
Instead of returning to his four-bedroom apartment in nearby Parkes after the alleged murder, Billings allegedly fled to a workplace in Fifield, a small town about 80 kilometers northwest of Ms. Ticehurst’s home, with a population of only 126 inhabitants.
Billings was an employee of an oil drilling company, Resolution Drilling, based in nearby Parkes.
WhatsNew2Day Australia understands Billings was arrested at the Fifield site within hours because a local noticed his arrival and raised the alarm to police.
On Wednesday, locals said the company had set up an exploration platform in the area for several weeks and that Billings was known to have stayed there in fine style.
Molly Ticehurst (pictured with her young son) was allegedly murdered by her ex-boyfriend on Monday.
Daniel Billings (pictured) was arrested after he allegedly murdered Molly Ticehurst in her home on Monday.
Pictured: A man showing where Daniel Billings allegedly murdered Molly Ticehurst in Forbes, where he lived in Parkes and where he allegedly fled to in Fifield.
The manager of the Fifield Hotel, the town’s only business, said Billings was once booked to stay in a room at the pub along with his colleagues, but opted to sleep at the workplace.
Speaking on the night of the alleged murder, a local said Billings did not know anyone in the Fifield area and the pub was closed in the early hours of the morning.
“He didn’t know anyone in town, the pub was closed and we knew he had stayed there (at the drilling site) with some loot before,” the local said.
Another said Billings often spoke to other pub-goers about his problems at home, and recently revealed he had been arrested and released on conditional bail on $5,000 bail.
Billings was charged on April 5 with three counts of rape, four counts of stalking and intimidation, two counts of destruction of property and one count of animal cruelty, all allegedly in relation to Ms. Ticehurst.
The local said: “He came several times and told us that he was having problems with his wife and that they had set bail for him at five grand.”
He then held up a large pink penis-shaped piggy bank and laughed as he said, “I joked that he would have to get used to this.”
The comment appeared to be a joke about the possible consequences of a possible prison sentence.
“When I first met him at the pub he was drinking rum and Coca-Cola, but recently he wasn’t drinking and he ordered Gatorade,” the man said.
One of Billings’ bail conditions was that he not drink or do drugs.
Fifield (pictured) is a small town about an hour north of Forbes. The population is 126 and there is one pub.
Forensic investigators are pictured at Molly Ticehurst’s home on Tuesday. The windows were broken
On Wednesday night, the drilling company posted a link encouraging people to donate to White Ribbon Australia, an organization dedicated to ending male violence.
“In 2024 we will support White Ribbon Australia, which is helping to build a nation where every woman is free from all forms of male violence and abuse,” the site said.
‘If you would like to help support this great cause, simply click the donate button below. “Any help is greatly appreciated and will make a big difference.”
Billings’ former boss, whom WhatsNew2Day Australia has chosen not to name, said: “What has happened is truly horrible.”
“We are aware of this, but it is not our place to comment and we must think about our staff who are struggling at the moment.”
Billings shared a rental with other merchants for about six months in suburban Parkes, surrounded by families.
The property was empty Wednesday with large sheets of aluminum foil covering the windows.
Pictured: Daniel Billings’ rental property. He shared it with other merchants.
The windows of Daniel Billings’ home were covered with aluminum foil to block the sun.
A neighbor told WhatsNew2Day Australia the house was usually occupied with men in high-visibility uniforms, but they rarely made noise and kept to themselves.
“Most of them worked night shifts,” said a neighbor.
“That’s why their bedroom windows are covered with aluminum foil so they can sleep during the day, so we didn’t hear or see them much.”
Police canvassed the street Tuesday morning for at least three hours, asking neighbors if they knew Billings or had any interactions with him.
Billings and Ticehurst were in a relationship for about 18 months until July last year, but got back together briefly in December.
At the time of the alleged murder, Billings was out on bail following a series of assault charges relating to Ms Ticehurst.
He was also the subject of a detained violence order and was not allowed to enter Forbes or go near Ms Ticehurst or her workplace.
Billings was out on bail for 15 days before he allegedly drove to Ms Ticehurst’s home and murdered her.
His matter was mentioned at Orange Local Court on Tuesday, during which his bail was revoked.
The matter will be heard in court again on June 20.