Sunshine Coast’s unresolved missing persons cases

Christmas is typically a time of celebration and family gatherings, but for some households, it brings the heartache of an empty seat at the table and the lingering pain of unanswered questions.

Sunshine Coast missing people

Unanswered questions and ongoing searches for several missing individuals continue to weigh heavily on the Sunshine Coast, leaving families torn between hope and despair.
Christmas is a time typically marked by celebration and family gatherings, but some households are instead confronted by an empty seat at the table and the lingering pain of unanswered questions.

Despite extensive efforts from police and the community, the whereabouts of these loved ones remain unknown.

Edan Huntington

The disappearance of 28-year-old Mermaid Waters man Edan Huntington in January 2023 has left his mother, Delia Harpur, grappling with an unimaginable void as the family continues to search for answers nearly two years later.

Mr Huntington went missing while visiting family in Montville, sparking an extensive police search that covered a 6km radius around the hinterland town.

Despite the use of drones and ground teams, no trace of him or his grey Ford Territory (NSW registration CQG59F) was found.

“It’s been really hard,” Ms Harpur said.

“The first nine months or so I could barely do anything. I would cry every day. I’d go to the supermarket or anywhere, hear a sad song on the radio, and just cry.

“Every morning we wake up and think of him, every night when we go to sleep, it’s a different way of existing.”

Delia Harpur with her son Edan Huntington.

On the night he vanished, Mr Huntington made a cryptic triple-0 call requesting an ambulance.

The call was muffled and unintelligible.

“He was speaking so quickly,” Ms Harpur said.

“He said, ‘can you call me back because I need to look at my phone to tell you where to go.’”

When operators called him back, Edan sounded “stressed.”

“There was a lot of fumbling with the phone … it was like he was in some type of situation. The last thing he said was, ‘hold on,’ and then the phone cut out. That was it. That was the last thing he said.”

Police, family and friends have thoroughly searched the area where Mr Huntington’s phone last pinged off a cell tower but found no evidence of him or his car.

Edan Huntington has been missing since January 18, 2023 after driving off from a holiday rental in Montville.

One witness came forward, reporting a sighting of Mr Huntington and his car near the Altitude Hotel around the time of the triple-0 call. The witness described seeing a woman in her late 30s or early 40s with long dark hair, wearing a white shirt with maroon and purple shorts, and carrying a black bag. She was spotted about 100 metres from Edan’s location after 4am.

The woman has never been located.

Describing Mr Huntington as “very intelligent” and educated in IT, Ms Harpur shared how deeply his disappearance had impacted his loved ones.

“He really didn’t realise how popular he was. He just had so many friends. I cannot believe the number of people who have come forward, people who were in his life and heard what happened. It’s been overwhelming.”

Friends of Mr Huntington have taken it upon themselves to conduct their own investigations, sharing any leads they uncover with Ms Harpur.

Edan Huntington has been missing since January 18, 2023 after driving off from a holiday rental in Montville.

Ms Harpur said switching between “investigator mode” and grieving while also trying to maintain her day-to-day life had been exhausting.

She said the ordeal had become “incredibly frustrating” but remained hopeful for answers and continues to appeal for anyone with information to come forward.

Luke Gourlay

Earlier this year, Nambour mum Suzanne Searle spoke to the Sunshine Coast Daily about her son Luke Gourlay, who has been missing since Boxing Day 2023.

She described the ordeal as “surreal”, as she struggles between hope and grief with no new leads in the search for him.

Luke, 30, was last seen after visiting the Landsborough pub about 3.30pm on December 26.

His mother believes he walked along Cribb Street, across the train lines, and onto Steve Irwin Way, where he was seen barefoot and without a hat by several passers-by.

The final emergency call placed him near the Big Kart Track between 4pm and 4.30pm.

Suzanne Searle is begging for public help to find her son, Luke Gourlay, who has been missing since Boxing Day 2023.

Luke’s work van, with the keys left in the ignition and the window down, was found abandoned along Cribb Street days later, but no clues have been found since.

Ms Searle said the initial search efforts, involving the SES, mounted police, and other resources, were hampered by wet weather and the delay in reporting Luke’s disappearance.

Burnside man Luke Gourlay has been missing since Boxing Day last year and his mum is pleading for public help for clues to his whereabouts.

She has posted numerous missing person flyers around Landsborough in an attempt to jog people’s memories and urged anyone with information, including motorists with dashcam footage, to come forward.

“The not knowing is the worst, you know, if something bad has happened I just want to know,” Ms Searle said.

Dennis “Danny” Cole

34-year-old Dennis 'Danny' Cole has been missing since May 2024.

Dennis Cole, 34, disappeared from his home on Sunrise Road, Doonan, on May 12, 2024.

Police and SES teams conducted extensive searches across the region, including Yandina Forest and Wappa Falls, but no signs of him were found.

34-year-old Dennis 'Danny' Cole has been missing since May 2024.

Described as a nature lover, Dennis is believed to frequent bushland areas.

Police continue to appeal to the public for any information that could shed light on his disappearance.

Simon Denny

42-year-old Simon Denny has been missing since 2018.

Simon Denny, 42, has been missing since March 24, 2018, when he was last seen at a residence in Moffat Beach.

Despite public appeals and ongoing investigations, his case remains unsolved.

Evonne Bond

Missing Tewantin woman, Evonne Bond. Picture – QLD Police.

The search for 73-year-old Evonne Bond, last seen in Tewantin on December 15, 2023, was suspended earlier this year.

Her white Hyundai Kona was found at Sunrise Beach, sparking weeks of intensive land and air searches.

Despite the end of physical efforts, police continue to seek public assistance.

If you have seen any of the individuals mentioned or have relevant information, please contact Queensland Police at www.police.qld.gov.au/reporting or call 131 444.