Markiah Major inquest: Court seeks answers on missing Yarrabah teen

A police detective said there was no evidence a missing Far North Queensland teen was abducted, tortured and later killed by a bikie gang, an inquest has heard.

Police, SES, divers and a human remains detection dog have scoured remote bushland near Yarrabah for the remains of missing teen Markiah. Picture: Queensland Police Service

A police detective says there is no evidence a missing Far North Queensland teen was abducted, tortured and later killed by a bikie gang, an inquest has heard.

During the second day of the inquest before Northern Coroner Stephanie Williams, a young friend of Markiah Major outlined the movements of the pair before Markiah went missing in 2023.

But it was the evidence from former Child Protection and Investigation Unit detective Aaron Thomas that put to rest the rumour Markiah had been kidnapped by bikers in revenge

for stealing a “flashy” green Holden ute with Banditos insignia, which also contained a large amount of cash.

Markiah has been missing since August 15 2023.

Mr Thomas told the court he believed an associate of Markiah’s had lied to the Yarrabah community about being in possession of an Instagram video purportedly showing the teen strapped to a chair in a small room.

“You could see the angst and worry it was causing the family and I called her out on what I believed were lies,” Mr Thomas said.

Police, SES, divers and a human remains detection dog have scoured remote bushland near Yarrabah for the remains of missing teen Markiah. Picture: Queensland Police Service

Body worn video recorded on November 29, 2023 and played to the court showed the unidentified witness answering a series of questions by police before she admitted the story of the video was a fabrication.

“That (green) car was making me think .... (and) there were all these $50 notes in it,” she said in the body worn vision.

Mr Thomas testified there was no evidence to suggest involvement of outlaw motorcycle clubs in the teen’s disappearance.

Yarrabah woman Adelaide Sands appealed for information on the whereabouts of her missing son Markiah, 17, who was last seen in Cairns on August 15, 2023. Picture: Brendan Radke

The 17-year-old went missing on August 15, and on August 19 police located a stolen Volkswagen Polo found dumped at a remote location in Yarrabah at the end of Back Beach Rd, which was later linked to Markiah.

The discovery of the connection between Markiah and the vehicle triggered an extensive land search involving the dog squad and police divers, but no trace of him was ever found.

During questions from counsel assisting the coroner Matt Jackson, one of the last people to see Markiah alive outlined the final movements of his friend

The witness said after the stopping at the Edge Hill Tavern to buy cigarettes the pair got a taxi to a drug house where they scored and injected ice before walking back to the tavern to pick up the stolen Polo.

At this point Markiah had been awake for up to three days, the court heard.

Associates of Yarrabah teenager Markiah have given evidence at a coronial inquiry into his disappearance.

The pair then went to a house in Manunda and the witness left the car running before going inside to charge his phone where he had an argument with his mother and brother.

He left the house to discover Markiah had taken off in the Volkswagen Polo.

“I walked around because I thought he might have done a blockie,” he said.

But the witness said he never saw Markiah again.

Coroner Williams asked if there was anything he knew that could shed light on what happened to Markiah, he answered “no”, but added the loss of his friend weighed heavily on his mind.

“I try not to think of it, it’s hard, stressful,” he said.

The inquest continues on Wednesday.

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Originally published as Markiah Major inquest: Court seeks answers on missing Yarrabah teen