Pie Creek man Joe Johnson still missing after 72 days, extensive search

The whereabouts and fate of a 28-year-old man who went missing before Christmas, and who was linked to a stolen car found in bushland near Gympie, remains unknown.

The whereabouts of 28-year-old Pie Creek man Joe Johnson, who went missing before Christmas, remains a mystery more than two months on and despite an extensive search of bushland outside Gympie.

The search for missing Pie Creek man Joe Johnson continues more than two months after he was last seen, with an extensive scouring of bushland west of Gympie turning up no sign of the 28-year-old.

Mr Johnson has been missing since December 12, 2023.

He was last seen at a Rocks Rd property at Pie Creek, about 10km southwest of Gympie, that evening.

The only potential sign of his whereabouts in the 72 days since he went missing was the discovery of a white Mitsubishi ute police believe to have been stolen on December 27.

The vehicle had been abandoned in bushland at the end of Deans Rd, near Widgee Crossing South.

Police said they were able to link Mr Johnson to the ute.

A large scale search and rescue of the nearby area was launched on January 9, with the party including volunteers and police divers.

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Police launched a search of bushland near The Palms, outside Gympie, after the discovery of an abandoned ute in the area. Police said the ute was believed to have been stolen from an Old Noosa Rd property, and officers were able to link Mr Johnson to the vehicle.

It was suspended after four days due to oppressive heat and the challenging terrain, and resumed about a week later to no avail.

“Extensive searches of the area where the car was located, nearby roads and tracks have been unsuccessful,” police said on Thursday.

“Investigations are continuing.”

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Two extensive search operations in bushland outside Gympie were unsuccessful in finding the missing 28-year-old, police said Thursday.

During the initial searches police were unwilling to rule out any possibilities as to what had happened to Mr Johnson, or state whether they believed he was still alive or if the disappearance was being treated as suspicious.

At the time Inspector Brad Inskip said Mr Johnson was “known to have a bit of experience with camping and could maintain himself in the bush for some time”.

Mr Johnson is described as caucasian in appearance, about 180cm tall with a very slim build, short brown hair, and hazel eyes.

He has a distinctive tattoo on the right-hand-side of his neck.

Anyone with information about his whereabouts is urged to immediately contact police, and as officers and his family have serious concerns for his welfare.