Hundreds of Central Coast residents have staged a vigil at Terrigal Beach on the Central Coast to remember murdered 19-year-old University of Technology Sydney student Audrey Griffin.
Most of the mourners wore white at the request of the talented sportswoman’s family and listened to Griffin’s mother Kathleen Kirby commemorate her daughter and call for action against gender-based violence, saying “enough is enough”.
“Let this moment be ours to honour Audrey, hold each other close, and stand for change,” Kirby said. “We will support change. Change does not happen alone. It takes all of us. Support each other as a community.
“Audrey and every person deserves to feel safe. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.”
Unbeknownst to the gathering on Thursday night, the man charged with her murder, 53-year-old Adrien Torrens, was found dead in his cell at Silverwater jail the same afternoon.
Griffin’s body was found on March 24 partially submerged in Erina Creek. She was last seen leaving the Gosford Hotel on the Central Coast at 2am the day before after spending the evening with friends.
Police initially did not regard the teenager’s death as suspicious, labelling it a drowning, but after new information came to light put out an appeal for information about a man seen following her, and later arrested Torrens in Sydney.
He was placed in custody at Metropolitan Remand and Reception Centre where authorities found him unresponsive in a cell at 4.50pm on Thursday.
She was such a bright light… and one of the kindest and loveliest people I have ever met.
Torrens previously had 11 counts of domestic violence against him, and at the time of Griffin’s death, was released on an 18-month supervision order due to domestic offences relating to his ex-partner in January.
Griffin was a second-year student at UTS with plans to join the Navy. She competed in triathlons and Ironwoman events and was a member of the Terrigal Wamberal Sharks rugby league club. She completed an Ironman event in New Zealand just weeks before her death, swimming 1.9km, cycling 90km and running 21.1km run.
The popular student was also a member of the UTS Bats AFL club. U20s captain Madi wrote on Instagram after her death: “Audrey was such a bright, loving, caring girl with such a beautiful heart. She made us all laugh and was always up for anything. Audrey was an amazing athlete — not only was she an awesome footy player but also a triathlete. ”
Teammate Aleah added: “She was such a bright light in our team last year and one of the kindest and loveliest people I have ever met.”
The team is raising money on the Walk for WAGEC (Women’s and Girls’ Emergency Centres) on May 4 to call for an end to violence against women and children and “to honour the life of our teammate Audrey”. Their fundraising page has already been pledged over $10,000.
Mourners at the vigil lit candles, held hands and at sunset floated Griffin’s favourite flowers out to sea – French peonies.
“She is one of us, a young girl from the Central Coast, with the same social circles, same social hang-outs,” said 19-year-old University of Newcastle student Tahlia Deane. “We are not going to stand for this anymore.
“It is so sad that a young beautiful woman has lost her life and has been failed by the system.”
There'll be no justice for Audrey Griffin after the man accused of her murder ended his own life while on remand.
I won’t publish his photo or name.
Like every single woman, 19-year-old Audrey had had every right to walk the street at anytime of day or night without some thug… pic.twitter.com/3vkgx2ZBnv— Sherele Moody (Femicide Researcher) 🌈 (@ShereleMoody) April 24, 2025
According to NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research the Central Coast has the second-highest number of domestic violence incidences in the state, while the Central Coast Council says it is also overrepresented for breaches of apprehended violence orders.
The council has run an Activism against Gender-based Violence campaign in November and December in recent years to combat the problem.
Femicide researcher Sherele Moody, posting on X said: “Going out with mates is a rite of passage for every young Australian – arriving home safe and sound is an extension of this.”
She added Griffin was the 22nd woman killed in Australia this year in a gender-based homicide.
“Many people from the local area are justifiably upset after realising for almost a month they had an accused killer in their midst,” she said.
“We need honesty from police when women are murdered – and this is even more vital when potential killers are not apprehended.
“Audrey was 19. A university student. A talented sports star. A much-loved daughter. A respected and adored friend. She was smart, funny, kind — she was all the things.”
Main image by Ellouise Ham and BATS UTS.
