A man appeared in a Sydney court today, charged with the murder of 19-year-old Audrey Griffin, whose body was discovered in a creek on the New South Wales Central Coast last month.
Ms Griffin was found partially submerged in Erina Creek near the Entrance Road on March 23, after last being seen around 3am that morning. Initially, her death was not considered suspicious, but police later appealed for information on April 17.
On Monday, officers arrested 53-year-old Adrian Torrens in Sydney’s inner city, charging him with Ms Griffin’s murder, along with 11 unrelated domestic violence offences. Police allege the pair had a “physical altercation” prior to her death.
Mr Torrens was remanded in custody after choosing not to apply for bail at his Downing Centre Local Court appearance today.
Police renew calls for answers
Brisbane Water District Commander Darryl Jobson explained that while early post-mortem results didn’t suggest foul play, the concerning nature of the case led police to dig deeper.
“For a young woman to lose her life in a creek was very unsettling for us as investigators,” he said.
A dedicated strike force was launched, and following a public appeal and significant new information, Ms Griffin’s death was officially treated as a homicide from Good Friday.
Investigators confirmed there was no known connection between Ms Griffin and her alleged killer.
Superintendent Jobson said the arrest and murder charge had been especially hard for Ms Griffin’s family.
“They’re heartbroken,” he said. “These tragedies send ripples through communities — and our first responders feel it too.”
Community in shock
Ms Griffin, remembered as a warm, spirited, and generous young woman, had recently graduated as vice captain from Central Coast Sports College in 2023. The tight-knit community was left reeling by the loss.
College principal Paul Chapman described the young woman’s passing as senseless and devastating.
“It’s something you wake up to, hoping it’s not real. It’s hard to understand why these things happen,” Mr Chapman said.
While news of a murder charge is distressing, he added, it at least brings some answers to a tragedy that had made no sense.
