Girlfriend of missing man Jack McLennan speaks out
The girlfriend of a man who has been missing for 10 days after vanishing near fishing spot said he would never go so long without speaking to her, or his family. SEE THE NEW TIMELINE
South Burnett
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The girlfriend of a Sunshine Coast man who has been missing for 10 days near Murgon said he would never go so long without speaking to her, or his family.
Jack McLennan was last seen between 8-10pm on Friday, October 4, near Ficks Crossing, a fishing hole on the side of the Bunya Highway.
Carlee Beetham said she was speaking over the phone to Jack all through that Friday and they had plans to see each other the next day.
“I am very angry because none of it makes sense,” she said.
“He had plans to see me and have dinner with his boss, he wouldn’t just disappear.”
Jack’s disappearance has triggered an extensive search and rescue operation.
Police located a pair of white shoes that are believed to be Jack’s at Ficks Crossing, while a hat that is also believed to be Jack’s was found near McAlister and McLucas Streets in Murgon.
‘VERY FUNNY, KIND HEARTED AND CARING’
Ms Beetham said Jack was drinking with a man he knew and they had plans to go fishing at Ficks Crossing on October 4.
“He is very funny, very kind hearted and caring, always into his fitness, playing Xbox and being home with the dogs. He is just a normal guy.
“Everyone who knows Jack, likes him, no one has anything bad to say about him.
“He is smart and fit, if he was lost he would have figured it out.”
Police are appealing to witnesses, particularly a person who camped overnight in the Ficks Crossing area the night 27-year-old Jack McLennan went missing, to immediately come forward.
POLICE ASK FOR CAMPER TO COME FORWARD
On Friday, police specifically asked for another person known to have camped near Ficks Crossing overnight on October 4, to come forward.
“Police are appealing to witnesses, particularly a person who camped overnight in the Ficks Crossing area, to immediately come forward,” a police statement read on Friday afternoon.
“The person was travelling in a dark coloured vehicle with a roof top tent.”
South Burnett Patrol Group Inspector Scott Stahlhut said police would be deploying a large number of ground resources over the weekend.
“We will have about 30 SES volunteers searching areas we have not looked at yet, and going over ground we have already covered,” he said.
“The search has been hampered by the wet weather, with some water courses rising.”
Along with the campers who were at Fick’s Crossing when Jack disappeared, police would also like to speak to anyone who was staying or travelling in the area.
“The area is not remote and we can’t discount that Jack has not got into a car and doesn’t want to be found,” Stahlhut said.
“Ficks Cross is well used, and it is a very popular place.”
Jack’s disappearance is not being treated as suspicious at this time.
“There are a lot of inquiries to run out, people are assisting us when we ask about it, we don’t have suspects at this time.” Insp Stahlhut said.
PARENTS JOIN APPEAL FOR HELP
Jack’s parents have also appealed to anyone who may have seen him to come forward.
Kellie Moody, from Memerambi, told media Jack’s car had been found in Murgon, “so she was particularly asking any motorists who were driving on the Bunya Highway on Friday night to contact police if they had seen a man walking along the road”.
“He’s a good walker,” she said. “Jack may have decided to walk back into Murgon or towards Memerambi.”
Hid dad, Ross McLennan, has flown up from Tasmania to join the search, other media have reported.
Jack was last seen about 8pm-10pm at Ficks Crossing recreational grounds, between Wondai and Murgon, about 5km south of Murgon, on Friday, October 4.
The CCTV footage him visiting a shop with another person in Lamb St, Murgon earlier on the day of his disappearance about 1.30pm.
Search efforts have included the Dive Squad conducting operations in and around all bodies of water near Ficks Crossing while expanded ground and aerial searches continued on Thursday and Friday.
Jack is described as caucasian, about 185cm tall with light brown hair, brown eyes, and last seen wearing a black T-shirt and dark shorts.
During a press conference in Murgon on Thursday, Southern Downs Inspector Scott Stahlhut said it was “out of character” for Jack to not let anyone know his whereabouts.
“This is unusual for Jack so we do have some concerns for his well being,” Insp Stahlhut said.
“This type of behaviour is definitely out of character and Jack would usually tell someone he was either leaving a place or let them know where he was.”
He said the shoes were located in grass near the park where he was last seen, he said family members had identified the shoes as belonging to Mr McLennan
“We did find those shoes in between the park and Krebs Bridge, but they were closer to Krebs (bridge),” he said.
Insp Stahlhut said the recent storms had also impacted the search efforts.
“There are some waterway rises so that is having an impact on our search operations,” he said.
Police initiated a broad search on Monday which was then escalated.
On Tuesday morning, SES personnel could be seen at the reserve launching a drone to assist in the search efforts.
Insp Stahlhut said a range of police resources had been deployed including trained search and rescue officers, SES volunteers and detectives from the Criminal Investigation Branch. “The detectives are involved to run out any leads we uncover,” he said.
“Jack is not unfamiliar with the area and the circumstances of his disappearance warrant standing up the search and rescue phase, based on the information we have.”
The police deployment included officers on foot, motorbikes, police divers, along with Remote Piloted Aerial System and Queensland Remote Area Tracking personnel.
Insp Stahlhut said they had seen “promising signs” that indicated Mr McLennan was either still in the area or not far from it.
Ficks Crossing is a small watering hole on the Barambah Creek.
It has some basic picnic amenities and is popular with families and anglers.
Signage has been placed along the Bunya Highway asking motorists to slow down and report any sightings of Mr McLennan to police, and landholders are being urged to check their properties.
Phone Policelink on 131 444 or Crimes Stoppers in 1800 333 000.
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