Theo Hayez disappeared from Byron Bay two years ago and his family still doesn’t have answers

The Byron Bay community, family of Theo Hayez and police remain committed to finding answers as they mark two years since the Belgian backpacker vanished after leaving a popular nightclub.

UPDATE: 5.30pm

There were tears and there was hope for answers when a vigil was held to mark two years since Theo Hayez disappeared in Byron Bay.

Theo, a Belgian backpacker, was aged 19 when he was last seen on the night of May 31, 2019.

He was last seen leaving Cheeky Monkey’s bar on Jonson St and was reported missing by Wake Up hostel a week later when he failed to check out of his accommodation.

Members of the community and relatives of Theo gathered at The Pass in Byron Bay on Monday to mark two years since his disappearance.

Despite exhaustive searches, what happened to Theo remains a mystery.

His disappearance will be subject to a coronial inquest which has been scheduled for November.

Theo’s godfather, Jean-Phillippe Pector, said the support of the local Byron community had meant a lot to the family.

“Without that, without the support of the local volunteers who are, in an ongoing process, helping us … we wouldn't have been able to really face all this pain and … coming back to Byron Bay or this anniversary was really hard, but knowing that we were going to meet those wonderful people helped us a lot, really,” Mr Pector said.

“It’s a bit of an extended family now and it’s really balanced the pain. They are incredible people, really.”

He said the family and local members of the community team who tried so hard to find his god son were in constant contact.

Mr Pector said the community’s gesture at The Pass was moving.

“I see it as a kind of portal to Belgium, to the parents, to send them all our love and show them how much we care and how much we are dedicated to find answers,” he said.

“It’s like an emotional connection and a message of hope and love to the parents.”

Sheri D’Rosario, one of the members of the Looking for Theo Hayez team, said it was important for the public not to forget Theo.

“We’ve got the coronial inquest coming up and I think particularly at this time, it’s really important to keep Theo’s name and face out in the media because we still believe there could be somebody with information that needs to come forward,” she said.

Jacalyn Scott explained the idea behind using a sand mandala, which attendees contributed to with flowers and other natural elements.

“We wanted something that was quiet and reflective, something that was large and beautiful but really peaceful at the same time,” she said.

Tweed Byron Police District Inspector Matt Kehoe was also at the event.

“I think it’s important for the family and the community to know that the police are still investigating the matter,” he said.

“Certainly, our thoughts go out to Theo’s family and friends today.

“A lot’s changed in the world in the last two years but the family are still looking for those answers.”

Insp Kehoe said he hoped the inquest could hope to bring them those answers.

Earlier:

A vigil was held on Monday to mark two years since Belgian backpacker Theo Hayez disappeared from Byron Bay.

Theo, then aged 19, was last seen leaving Cheeky Monkey’s club on the night of May 31, 2019.

He was not reported missing to NSW Police until a week later, when he failed to check out of his accommodation at Wake Up hostel at Belongil.

Despite an extensive search, he has not been found.’

But members of the community, who were involved in a grassroots effort to find clues to his disappearance, have not given up hope.

Missing Belgium backpacker Theo Hayez's father Laurent Hayez (right) talks at a press conference at Tweed Heads flanked by Theo's godfather Jean-Phillippe Pector.

Police have referred the matter to the coroner and an inquest has been scheduled to be held in November.

The group behind the Looking for Theo Hayez Facebook page announced they would gather at The Pass from 3pm today.

“We thank you all from the bottom of our hearts for your ongoing support and interest in finding Théo,” they said in the post.

“From 3pm we’ll be creating a sand mandala at The Pass to honour Théo and to help his family in Belgium remain connected to Byron Bay.

Laurent Hayez with son Theo at age 3. Supplied

“We invite everyone who was touched by Théo’s story to be part of this special day by bringing something small from nature (e.g. a flower, feather, twig, pebble or seed pod) to decorate the mandala.”

They encouraged people impacted by Theo’s disappearance to also use the group’s new Facebook frame for their profile picture “to keep Theo’s face and name in the spotlight”.

“This is particularly important now, in the lead up to the coronial inquest in November, as we’d like to continue encouraging people to come forward with new information,” they said in the post.