Search for Joe Johnson paused

A search of dense bushland for a missing Gympie man is likely to enter a new stage, with still no sign of the 28-year-old almost a month after he was last seen.

The search for a missing Pie Creek man has been temporarily paused after rescue crews and divers scoured thick bushland west of Gympie for more than two days.

The large scale search for Joe Johnson at The Palms, 15km west of the city, was launched on Tuesday morning after police were able to link him to a white Mitsubishi ute found in the area shortly after Christmas Day.

Police said the ute was suspected to have been stolen from an Old Noosa Rd address.

It was found abandoned in thick bushland at the end of Deans Rd, at Widgee Crossing South, on December 27.

Mr Johnson was last seen at a Rocks Rd, Pie Creek property on the evening of December 12, 2023.

Search and rescue efforts at The Palms have included SES volunteers and police divers.

By Thursday evening, the search had still failed to turn up any sign of Mr Johnson and authorities announced they would “pause” the search.

This was to allow authorities to plan the next steps, which were expected to be start “within the next several days”, they said.

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Residents from Tandur, Pie Creek, The Palms, and surrounding areas are being urged to check CCTV or dashcam footage from December 11 in case they have seen the white ute or Mr Johnson around their properties.

“The pause was also done to allow volunteers and emergency services to rest, following the challenging terrain and ongoing heat,” police said.

Other resources including aerial support, were being used in the meantime to help progress the search.

Police believe Mr Johnson travelled in the ute from Rocks Rd to The Palms about the time his family last saw him.

“The family is obviously very concerned about Joe and we are throwing all our resources to help find him,” Inspector Brad Inskip said.

While Mr Johnson has not been seen for almost a month, police were unwilling to rule out any possibilities.

“He is known to have a bit of experience with camping and could maintain himself in the bush for some time,” Inspector Inskip said.

He would not confirm nor deny whether the disappearance was being treated as suspicious, saying investigations were ongoing.

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Police have started scouring creeks and dense bushland along Widgee Crossing South since early Tuesday, January 9.

Officers and SES volunteers started scouring through dense properties and thick grass overgrown from heavy rain along Widgee Crossing South on Tuesday morning, January 9.

Water police with a dive squad searched dams and creeks in the area, looking for anything that might help.

Residents from Tandur, Pie Creek, The Palms, and surrounding areas have been urged to check CCTV or dashcam footage from December 11 in case they have seen the white ute or Mr Johnson around their properties.

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.