Long-term missing leave families without closure

More than half of all missing people are found within 24 hours but there are some families who have been waiting up to 43 years for news of a loved one.

Jennifer Kilkenny was last seen in Zillmere on January 1, 2012.

MORE than half of all missing people are found within 24 hours but there are some families who have been waiting up to 43 years for news of a loved one.

There are 21 names on the QPS database of long-term missing people from the Brisbane and Moreton areas.

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This includes Lydie Notz, 21, who was last seen in Chapel Hill in October 1976.

German national Lydia Notz disappeared in October 1976, just a month after arriving in Australia aged 21.

The youngest are Chad Sutton, 16 and sister Melony, 14, who left their Inala home in November 1992 to walk to school and have not been seen since.

The oldest, Michael Newbon, 74, is believed to have wandered off from his Bribie Island home on the morning of October 9, 2013.

Missing Persons Unit Detective Senior Sergeant Damien Powell said it was very difficult for family members when someone went missing.

“The loss and grieving without closure or always wondering what happened to a loved one or what they could have done to help is very distressing,” Sen-Sgt Powell said.

“The QPS and my unit work very hard at resolving all missing person cases.

Carolyn Stokes was last seen in Redcliffe in 2008.

“We treat all the cases very seriously. There is also a big responsibility on looking after the family of the informant.

“We try to keep family informed of the investigation but it can be difficult due to privacy issues as to what we can share, even with the partner or parent of a missing person.”

Sen-Sgt Powell said about 38,000 people are reported missing each year across Australia.

Last year in Queensland almost 8200 people were reported missing and, of these, only 15 have not been located.

“Inquiries are continuing and we expect this number to reduce as some of them will be located,” Sen-Sgt Powell said.

“We locate more than 50 per cent in the first 24 hours. Of the remainder we locate another 50 per cent of that cohort in the next 24 hours. The vast majority are located within a few days.

Chad Sutton, 16, was last seen in Inala in 1992.

Melony Sutton, 14, disappeared with her brother.

“All missing persons who are not located are reported to the Coroner where we suspect they are deceased.

“The Coroner may declare them deceased but we keep them listed on our database until such time as they or their remains are located.

“We capture DNA from the missing person or appropriate family members in the hope that one day remains are located and we can identify the person. That way the family has some information as to what has happened.”

Sen-Sgt Powell, who has been with the Missing Persons Unit for 10 years, said there were three main reasons people go missing — relationship, financial and health (usually mental health) issues.

Bribie Island resident Michael Newbon was last seen in October 2013.

Stephen Blain has been missing from Logan since 1997.

“The reasons (also) vary a little bit across the age groups,” he said.

“Typically for children under 12 years it is a case of wandering, forgotten what time they had to be home, lost in the area, argument with family member or emotional outburst.

“In the teens it is a behavioural issue, rebellion, or miscommunication. However in these age groups issues such as autism, ADD (attention deficit disorder), ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) and ODD (oppositional defiant disorder) etc all play a contributing part.

“Children in care are a particularly difficult area and are over represented in the missing person space. Nationally it is an issue that all police agencies are working on reduction strategies.”

Kea Callcut, 20, was last seen in 2002 at Sunnybank.

Sandrine Jourdan was last seen in 2012.

Sen-Sgt Powell said people from 17 to 25 years were the least likely to be reported missing.

“I believe this is in some part due to this group being seen as more independent, more connected with friends and family through social media and life in general.

“They are also probably less prone to the pressures that we collect as we get older.”

Sen-Sgt Powell said you did not have to wait 24 hours to report someone missing and you did not have to be a relative.

“You can report somebody missing to your local police as soon as you are concerned for their welfare,” he said.

“We would expect that you would have made reasonable inquiries to locate them before reporting them missing and have reasonable concerns for their welfare.

John Trace, 19, was last seen 1973.

Edward Brisbane, 60, has been missing since 1993.

“Being a missing person is not an offence and from a police point of view we are only interested in your welfare and ensuring you are safe.

“When we locate you, we will not disclose your whereabouts to any person unless you agree, provided you are not a risk to yourself or somebody else.

“Children are treated on a case-by-case basis as we need to be careful they are not returned to a residence they are not safe at.”

Sen-Sgt Powell said a person or family member you have lost contact with did not constitute a missing person for police.

Lee Harper has not been seen since 1990.

Penelope Smith, 58, was last seen in November 2005.

Long-term missing people in Brisbane and Moreton

■ Stephen Blain, 40, was last seen at Logan Motorcycle Track at 9.30am on February 14, 1997. His vehicle was found abandoned at Station Rd, Woodridge.

■ Edward Alexander Brisbane, 60, left his Brighton home on July 2, 1993, telling his boarder he was going away for a few days. His abandoned car was found near Lamington National Park.

■ Jon Bucheker, 40, was last seen at his Slacks Creek home on May 27, 2010.

■ Kea Callcut, 20, was last seen on February 25, 2002 at Sunnybank.

Jon David Bucheker has been missing since 2010.

Owen Lindgreen hasn’t been seen since January 2016.

■ Wendy Darvill, 36, left her Mt Gravatt East home on August 8, 1996 to pay a fine at the Brisbane Magistrates Court.

■ Rosemary Dodd, 32, was last seen at Kingston on February 19, 1983.

■ Kaio Farr, 39, was last seen at Annerley in December 1996.

■ Lee Harper, 26, left work at Woolloongaba in February 1990 to attend a doctor’s appointment, which he kept. He has not been seen since.

Sean Sargent was last seen in Ferny Hills in 1999.

Thomas Patrick Maloney missing from Marsden since 1988.

■ Sandrine Jourdan, 38, left her Caboolture home in July 2012.

■ Jennifer Kilkenny, 33, left her boyfriend’s house at Zillmere on the morning of January 1, 2012 to return to her parent’s house and her children at Banyo. Her car was located at Brighton Park.

■ Owen Lindgreen, 56, was last seen leaving a mental care lodge in Grace St, Lota at 1pm on January 24, 2016, walking north towards Manly.

■ Thomas Maloney, 55, was last seen at his Marsden residence about 10am on July 14, 1988.

Gregory Thurlow has been missing since September 1996.

Kaio Farr, 39, was last seen at Annerley in December 1996.

■ Michael Newbon, 74, was last seen at his Bribie Island home on the morning of October 9, 2013. He is believed to have wandered off.

■ Lydia Notz, 21, was last seen at a friend’s house at Chapel Hill on October 31, 1976. She left a note saying she would return in about a week. Lydia arrived in Brisbane from Germany on September 6, 1976.

■ Sean Sargent, 24, was last seen in Olakuna Crs, Ferny Hills on March 19, 1999. His blue Ford Falcon XB (reg 746 ENN) is also missing.

■ Penelope Smith, 58, was last seen at Toowong at 7pm on November 7, 2005. It was believed she was travelling in a 2003 silver Holden Astra Hatch (reg 536 HUH).

Rosemary Dodd has been missing since 1983.

Wendy Darvill was last seen in 1996.

■ Carolyn Stokes, 59, was last seen by her husband at their Redcliffe home on March 11, 2008.

■ Chad Sutton, 16, and sister Melony, 14, left their Jabiru St, Inala home in November 1992 to walk to school.

■ Greg Thurlow, 27, visited a friend at Strathpine in September 1996. He said he was going to get a train to visit his father in Cairns.

■ John Trace, 19, was last seen by his family in mid 1973 in the Brisbane area. It is believed he may have travelled to North Queensland.