The most shocking missing person cases from the Sunshine Coast
From a backpacker presumed abducted 25 years ago to a mum who disappeared without a trace, there are several missing persons mysteries authorities are still trying to solve.
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Imagine your mother, father, friend or sibling vanishing – never to be heard from again.
For most of the families and friends in these cases, closure has never come.
The National Missing Persons Coordination Centre has estimated that there are 2600 long-term missing people across Australia.
The Sunshine Coast, heralded for its relaxed, beachside lifestyle, still harbours many mysteries as police probe the disappearance of several locals and tourists.
Anyone with information that may help locate any of these missing persons is urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
EDAN HUNTINGTON
The case of 28-year-old Edan Huntington has baffled detectives since he was last seen about 5am on January 18, 2023.
Mr Huntington, from the Gold Coast, went missing after driving off from a Montville holiday rental house in a 2010 Ford Territory with the number plate CQG59F.
He had been staying at the house with his father, who reportedly woke up at 5am to find paramedics and the neighbour inside the home.
Edan had reportedly called the ambulance but had driven off in a hurry 20 minutes before they arrived.
His mother Delia Harpur said it was completely out of character for her son to be out of contact for such a long time and that he had left all his personal belongings at the home.
Detective Sergeant Paul Riley said they had exhausted all avenues of investigation, after extensive ground and aerial searches using the police helicopter and drones.
“We also used the police helicopter with thermal imaging in the early stages and police divers in lakes and dams in the nearby vicinity,” he said.
“We conducted a lot of extensive examinations of cell records, phones and cell tower data which all leads us to believe that something has occurred on the range up there in the Montville area.”
Sergeant Riley said police were now preparing a report for the coroner.
SABRINA ANN GLASSOP
On May 29, 1999, Sabrina Ann Glassop vanished a few hundred metres from her home in Kenilworth.
It is believed Ms Glassop, a 47-year-old married mother of two, was killed and her body dumped in Kenilworth State Forest.
Ms Glassop was one of three women to go missing in the area in a 19-month period between 1997 and 1999.
Her car, a red Suzuki, was found by her husband on the day she went missing with the steering lock on.
Police statements said her husband had last seen her at 8.30pm the previous evening at her residence on Booloumba Creek Road.
Her parents, also residing at the same property, said they heard her leave at 6am the next morning on May 29, 1999 with her poodle.
Her remains and her dog have never been found.
CELINA BRIDGE
Missing British backpacker Celina Bridge, 28, was last seen alive while walking down Booloumba Creek Road on July 12, 1998.
She was one of three women who disappeared from the area during that time.
Maroochydore coroner Paul Johnstone ruled in November 15, 2002, that she was walking towards a nearby camping ground and that the most likely scenario was that she had been abducted somewhere along that road.
According to the Missing Persons Register, Ms Bridge may have last been seen on July 12, 1998 when she left Crystal Waters for a birdwatchers meeting the following weekend
Her body and possessions have never been found.
The coronial inquest into the disappearances of both Ms Bridge and Ms Glassop stated there was not enough evidence to commit anyone to stand trial for their murders.
The coroner did find, however, that both women had met with foul play.
Derek Sam was sentenced to 15 years in prison in August 2001 for the murder of 16-year-old Jessica Gaudie, who disappeared in that area during that time.
Although police previously named Sam as a suspect in the deaths of Ms Glassop and Ms Bridge, further charges have not been laid and searches for the women’s remains have continued for years.
Police have previously stated that Sam was uncooperative in their search efforts and that they had considered offering immunity in a bid to find the women’s remains.
Retired Detective Senior Sergeant Daren Edwards worked on the case during his 10-plus years in the Sunshine Coast.
Mr Edwards said Sam remained a suspect.
“With Jessica Gaudie, Sam has been served with a letter from homicide in relation to divulging the location of her remains as a part of the parole condition of ‘no body no parole’,” he said.
“But at the end of the day he is the one sitting rotting in prison where he could take steps to change that.”
Mr Edwards said working on these missing people cases could be frustrating but it was far more frustrating for the families.
“Recovering the remains is always a focus for the families,” he said.
“It answers a lot of questions, what happened to them and where did they go? Just to have that answer means a lot to people.”
BISERKA TOPLEK
Biserka, or ‘Bibby’, Toplek was last seen in Caloundra in August 1997.
Born in 1958, Ms Toplek would now be 65 and has been described as having a slim build, light hair and green eyes.
She has not been in contact with family or friends since her disappearance more than 20 years ago and was known to frequent RSL, bowls clubs and caravan parks.
DIEDRE CUNNINGHAM
On June 12, 1994 Diedre Cunningham left a party in Maroochydore in the early hours of the morning and has not been seen since.
Ms Cunningham was born in 1945, and had a medium build and brown hair.
Alarm bells were raised when Ms Cunningham failed to contact any family or friends – they have not heard from her in nearly three decades.
Ms Cunningham was not familiar to the area and was travelling on foot at the time of her disappearance.
KERRY ENGWIRDA
Kerry Engwirda was last seen by her daughter in December 1999 at the Peregian Beach Caravan Park.
Born in 1964 and 170cm tall, Ms Engwirda has made no contact with family and friends in more than 20 years.
Information available via the National Missing Persons Coordination Centre suggests that she may have travelled down to NSW, but that has not been confirmed.
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