Friends of Oliver Conroy, a 27-year-old baker from the Sunshine Coast, say he was a kind-hearted individual who was seeking a relationship when he was allegedly lured into a deadly ambush by a group of teenagers. Conroy died on August 6, two weeks after sustaining severe injuries during an assault on July 24 in Brisbane's inner north. Police allege that Conroy had been communicating with a girl on Snapchat and agreed to pay for sex. Instead, a group of teenagers, aged between 14 and 17, allegedly lay in wait to rob him.
Conroy drove to the Kelvin Grove State College staff carpark in his $64,000 BYD Shark 6. According to reports, he was then punched and kicked in the head while one of the teenagers filmed the assault and another demanded money. Neighbors found him on the street with serious injuries, and he was transported to Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital.
Seven teenagers, including two girls aged 14 and 15, have been charged with murder. Police allege the girls told Conroy they were 18 years old. One of the accused allegedly told a passer-by that they were on their way to "bash a paedophile," which has fueled speculation about vigilante involvement. However, friends have vehemently denied this, stating that Conroy would not have been aware of their real age and that the claims are an attempt to defame him.
After the alleged attack, Conroy reportedly grabbed onto his car in an attempt to prevent it from being stolen. Police allege he was dragged for nearly one kilometer as the teen driver accelerated and braked sharply. Conroy fell from the vehicle and was run over by the rear wheels. He had recently purchased the car, having worked hard to save for it. Friends described him as a dedicated baker who loved his job and wanted to find love.
The teenagers face potential life sentences under Queensland's "adult crime, adult time" laws. The 14-year-old and 15-year-old girls are the first female juveniles in Queensland to be charged with murder under these laws. Legal proceedings are ongoing, with police having applied to Brisbane Children's Court for DNA samples from six of the accused, though the applications faced procedural challenges.
Conroy, who had worked at Bakers Delight for several years, also shared photos on social media of a recent holiday to Vietnam with his mother and tributes to her. His friends described him as shy but outgoing with a heart of gold, who did not deserve this fate.
