Cops dropped missing man Ben Chisholm off at home the night before disappearance

UPDATE: Police have responded to criticisms after it was revealed Ben Chisholm was exhibiting “unstable” behaviour before cops dropped him off at home the day before his disappearance.

UPDATE: Police have responded to criticisms after it was revealed Ben Chisholm was exhibiting “unstable” behaviour before cops dropped him off at home the day before his disappearance.

The 22-year-old has been missing since last Wednesday (July 13) about 10am in Nelly Bay on Magnetic Island.

Mr Chisholm’s older sister Shiralee Rosario said her brother was exhibiting “unstable” behaviour on Tuesday — the day before he went missing — when residents in Picnic Bay called the cops on him because he was “door knocking on a random house.”

22-year-old man Ben Chisholm has been reported missing.

She said police didn’t seem to “pick up” on Ben’s bad mental state and dropped him off at home. The next morning he went missing.

Acting Inspector Mark Camilleri responded to criticisms that police could have better handled the situation.

“We’ll progress it as we go through, and if there are lessons to be learned, well, there are lessons to be learned,” he said.

Acting Inspector Mark Camilleri

It comes as search efforts on the island ramped up on Monday as teams — including Queensland Remote Area Tracking personnel — continued to comb through “extremely rugged terrain” around the bush trail where Ben’s hat and shirt were found on Thursday.

As the six-day search for Ben continues, Sgt Camilleri said they were “nowhere near” the point of scaling it back and could still expand their search to the waters near Nelly Bay.

“At this point and time, it’s fairly hard going,” he said.

“The terrain is very rugged. It takes a lot of time to search those big ravines and rocky crevasses.

“The tree cover can be fairly thick, which is why we’ve got a smaller specialists helicopter in that can hover low and the drones in the sky.”

Multiple agencies, including the State Emergency Service (SES), Rural Fire Service, Parks and Wildlife, are also assisting the search.

Sgt Camilleri also shared a message for Ben Chisholm at a press conference on Monday in case he was out there watching somewhere.

“Ben, if you’re listening, mate, please call — your mum, your sister, they all want you home safe and sound,” he said.

“If you could do that, it’d be much appreciated, mate, and we’ll get you home, and whatever it is, we can fix.”

EARLIER: Bizarre new details have been revealed about the movements of a missing 22-year-old man the day before his disappearance on Magnetic Island last week.

Ben Chisholm has been missing since last Wednesday (July 13) at about 10am in Nelly Bay on Magnetic Island.

Emergency service search teams have spent days combing the Arcadia area after his shirt and hat were found about 1.5km up a nearby bush trail on Thursday, but he’s still yet to be found.

Mr Chisholm’s older sister Shiralee Rosario said she was concerned for her brother’s wellbeing due to his “unstable” behaviour the day before he went missing.

22-year-old man Ben Chisholm has been reported missing.

She said her brother had gone for a walk to Picnic Bay on Tuesday and was “door knocking on a random house.”

“The police got called on Ben,” she said.

“The police found Ben and dropped him home. Police didn’t pick (up) on Ben’s mental state … didn’t notify me. Then he went missing Wednesday morning, and I called the police.”

Multiple agencies, including the State Emergency Service (SES), Rural Fire Service, Parks and Wildlife, and the QGAir Rescue 521 Helicopter, assisted police in their search efforts on Magnetic Island on the weekend.

A police spokesman said the search party continued until nightfall on Sunday and was due to recommence at first light on Monday.

Mr Chisholm has not been in contact with his family since last Wednesday.

The behaviour is considered out of character by those close to him, and his family have expressed concerns for his wellbeing.

Ben is described as caucasian in appearance, about 170cm tall, medium build and long, light-brown hair.

He was dressed in shorts and a dark green long-sleeved pullover. Investigators urge Ben, or anyone with information about his whereabouts, to contact police.

If you have information for police, contact Policelink by providing information using the online suspicious activity form 24hrs per day at www.police.qld.gov.au/reporting.

Report crime information anonymously via Crime Stoppers. Call 1800 333 000 or report online at www.crimestoppersqld.com.au. Quote this reference number: QP2201200039.

Originally published as Cops dropped missing man Ben Chisholm off at home the night before disappearance