Missing man Geoffrey McLean was attacked with acid before his disappearance
Geoffrey McLean – who police are searching for but believe is dead – was the victim of a violent acid attack just months before his disappearance.
Police & Courts
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A major police operation is taking place in the northern suburbs in relation to missing Andrews Farm man Geoffrey McLean – who was the victim of an horrific acid attack earlier this year.
In that incident, shocked witnesses looked on as Mr McLean, doused in petrol and hydrochloric acid, was hosed down by police around 9pm on May 11.
Mr McLean has been missing since August and police now believe he is dead.
The acid attack in May allegedly started on Leicester Grove where Mr McLean lives.
Police found Mr McLean and his attacker on nearby Premier Close, where Mr McLean, 55, sustained burns to his head, shoulder and arm.
He was rushed to hospital for treatment, while the suspect sustained head injuries in the altercation.
Anthony James Lloyd, 62, was arrested and later pleaded guilty in the Adelaide Magistrates Court to multiple counts of assault – including using a log splitter as a weapon.
There is no suggestion the attack and Mr McLean's disappearance are related in any way.
Mr Lloyd is currently is custody.
Mr McLean was last seen on August 18, 2022.
Police believe Mr McLean left his home address on August 19 at about 4am, when he went to meet a person who has yet to be identified.
He has not been seen since that time and was reported as missing on August 19.
Detective Inspector Brett Featherby said Major Crime detectives were now investigating as police “could not rule out foul play”.
He said did not believe Mr McLean’s body was at the park, but they were scouring it to “rule out” that possibility.
“This is a proactive search. Statistically, missing persons can be located in close proximity to their home and we want to rule out that he hasn’t died in circumstances that aren’t suspicious,” Det Insp Featherby said.
“If there are other reasons that he may have died, we need to explore those … we are conducting a thorough search to ensure that Geoffrey isn’t in this location.”
Nearby resident Les Horne said he did not know much about Mr McLean, but he came to his attention during the acid attack.
He said he understood he may have had been involved somehow in the incident.
Another resident, Marilyn Russo, said she was shaken by crime that had happened in the area and the possibility Mr McLean had died.
“It’s scary, really scary,” she said.
Ms Russo said police had recently canvassing the street asking if they had seen Mr McLean.
Another nearby neighbour, who chose not to be named, said Mr McLean’s home had been the subject of several incidents in recent months.
He said earlier in the year but after the acid attack, fire trucks, an ambulance and hazmat crews attended the house.
The neighbour said a car at the home was also set on fire in early August, about 10 days before Mr McLean was last seen.
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The operation, which involves Major Crime, Star Group, Mounted Operations and Water Operations officers, is taking place at Stebonheath Park on Davoren Rd, Andrews Farm.
Police from SAPOL’s water division are searching the Stebonheath wetlands near St Columba College.
“To date, we’ve been unable to locate any evidence of Geoffrey being alive,” Det Insp Featherby said.
He said Mr McLean had not used his bank account since August 19.
The Andrew’s Farm man lived about one kilometre away on Leicester Grove.
Mr McLean, Det Insp Featherby said, was known to leave his family for extended periods, but not for such an extended time and not without contact.
Eight mounted police, at least three divers and a drone are engaged in the search.
Divers began their leg of the search in the lake directly behind St Columba College.
Mounted police scoured the bush land while drones were deployed to investigate which areas of the park required more intensive searches.
Police said Mr McLean was “known to use drugs” and could not exclude the possibility that he died as a result of drug use, but investigations were still continuing.
Anyone with information as to Mr McLean’s disappearance has been urged to contact police, particularly anyone with dashcam in the vicinity of Andrews Farm on August 18 and 19.
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