The mother of a young sportswoman whose body was found in a creek has shared details of their heartbreaking last conversation, while revealing she is dealing with another devastating family matter.
Audrey Griffin, 19, was found dead in Erina Creek, on the NSW Central Coast, on the afternoon of March 24, after she had spent the previous night celebrating with friends at a Gosford pub.
She was preparing to begin a 10-week officer training course in April with the Royal Australian Navy and visited the Central Coast – where she grew up – to see her grandparents and invite her friends to a farewell party in Sydney the next weekend.
The teenager’s mother, Kathleen Kirby, said the pair exchanged messages while she was in Gosford in which she told her she was proud of her and loved her very much.
She said her daughter was a fit, intelligent and beautiful young woman who ‘had the world at her feet’.
Ms Kirby revealed to Daily Mail Australia she was already dealing with another painful family matter as her father was on his deathbed.
Ms Griffin’s death wasn’t deemed as suspicious as a preliminary autopsy had initially suggested she had drowned.
However, following further inquiries, police have charged Adrian Noel Torrens, 53, with murder after he was arrested in Surry Hills, Sydney, on Monday.
Audrey Griffin (left) and her mother Kathleen Kirby (right) shared a heartbreaking text exchange a day before her body was found in a Central Coast creek
Adrian Noel Torrens, 53, has been charged with murder
‘Police will allege the man had a physical altercation with the victim,’ a NSW Police statement said.
Torrens was also hit with 11 unlinked domestic violence charges.
He did not apply for bail in Downing Centre Local Court on Tuesday and it was formally refused.
His lawyer Bashir El Kheir told reporters the investigation is in its early stages and he was still trying to determine the allegations against his client.
The breakthrough emerged just days after police released an image of a man they wished to speak to in connection to Ms Griffin’s death, but also stated he was not a suspect and foul play was not involved.
Ms Griffin had left the Gosford Hotel about 2am and walked towards her father’s house after unsuccessfully trying to get an Uber.
Ms Kirby – who raised her daughter after she separated from Audrey’s father – said she’d spoken to her friends while walking and told them she was trying to hail a taxi.
She said it appeared she took the longer route home along the water, rather than cutting through the centre of Gosford, because it would be easier find a cab.
Audrey Griffin’s body was pulled from Erina Creek on the NSW Central Coast on March 24
Ms Griffin’s family said the 19-year-old ‘brought endless laughter and joy to everyone’. Pictured is Audrey visiting Japan
Ms Kirby said she ‘just wants justice’ for her daughter.
A fortnight before her death, the popular and sporty teenager had travelled to New Zealand to compete in the gruelling ANZCO half-ironman event, which she completed in just over six-and-a-half hours.
She has been remembered as a ‘determined athlete, talented student and well-liked teenager’.
‘She was the kindest soul to walk this earth and will always be in our hearts,’ a GoFundMe for her family said.
Ms Griffin was also a much-loved member of the Terrigal Sharks rugby league club along with the local water polo team and surf life saving clubs.
After completing her HSC in 2023, Ms Griffin juggled training and a part-time job at Crown Plaza Terrigal along with study commitments at University of Technology Sydney.
Torrens will next appear in court on June 20.
