Mystery over disappearance of Gold Coast man Jamie Hardgraves

A CRASHED car, a mystery sighting, a cryptic phone call to family — and still no one knows where Jamie Hardgraves is.

Jamie Hardgraves, 43, of Coomera was reported missing from Beaudesert last Tuesday, indicating to family over the phone that he was in Coolangatta.

A CRASHED car, a mystery sighting, a cryptic phone call to family — and still no one knows where Jamie Hardgraves is.

The Gold Coast 43-year-old was last seen officially on May 14, the day he told his mother he was headed for Coolangatta. In fact, that day he was hundreds of kilometres away at Beaudesert where a confirmed sighting of him was made on Thiedke Rd.

From that time though, things become uncertain.

The next day his badly damaged white ute was found more than 250km away at Texas, near the border with NSW, leading police to wonder if the vehicle had struck a kangaroo.

Inside was Mr Hardgraves’ wallet and mobile phone. But he was gone.

Initially there were fears he may have wandered away from the crash scene, injured, looking for help.

SES volunteers and police spent two days scouring paddocks and bushland in the area around Texas for Mr Hardgraves but nothing was found.

Inspector Brian Cannon, of Warwick police, said it was possible he became “disoriented” but said it was possible “others have picked him up along the way”.

“We’re certainly very concerned about finding him and making sure he is safe and well,” Insp Cannon told Channel 7 this week.

Recent picture of Jamie Hardgraves, reported missing from Coomera on May 17.

Hospitals in the area have no record of anyone fitting Mr Hardgraves’ description from being admitted.

Then came the next clue. Police revealed they had spoken with a member of the public and now believe that Mr Hardgraves may have been heading towards the Stanthorpe area.

To add to the confusion, a group of young men who were drinking in the Gunalda pub believe they saw him there on Friday — three days after the Beaudesert sighting.

Queensland Police told news.com.au that sighting was being investigated, but Mr Hardgraves’ family had told them there was no reason for him to be there.

One of the young men told news.com.au he was positive the man he played pool with was Jamie Hardgraves. “Guaranteed,” he said.

Jamie Hardgraves’ wrecked ute was found near Texas, Queensland.

That man was in the company of a woman and was using an eftpos or credit card to pay for drinks — suggesting the person wasn’t going to much trouble to cover his tracks.

A police spokesman told news.com.au: “At this stage, police are continuing to follow up [the supposed Gunalda sighting] with Crime Stoppers but family and friends have advised police as a part of their investigation today that they don’t believe that he would be in the Gunalda area.”

Although his family appear to be in the dark about what was going on with him. They have used social media to try and quell rumours he was involved in any untoward activity, but have declined interviews.

The police spokesman said it was believed Mr Hardgraves was sighted in Stanthorpe and police were focusing their attention there.

Mr Hardgraves is described as Caucasian, about 175cm tall, proportionate build, short sandy hair and blue eyes.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers urgently on 1800 333 000.

Originally published as Mystery over disappearance of Gold Coast man Jamie Hardgraves