Theo Hayez inquest: Police want a reward approved for information
With the inquest into the 2019 disappearance of a Belgian backpacker in Byron Bay in its tenth day, police are taking steps to unlock a reward for helpful information.
Byron Shire
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The police officer in charge of the investigation into Theo Hayez’ 2019 disappearance will ask for a reward to be considered for information about what happened to the Belgian backpacker.
The inquest into Theo’s disappearance was in its tenth day on Friday, the final hearing day of the matter for this year.
The barrister representing the NSW Police Commissioner, Claire Palmer, told the court steps were being taken to explore the option of a reward for information.
“I would like to say on the court record and before Theo’s family that the officer in charge of this investigation, Detective Philip Parker, will today submit an application to the relevant police command, to have a reward offered in respect of Theo’s disappearance,” Ms Palmer said.
“The approval of that application will be subject to some internal and external approval processes so I cannot guarantee today that the reward will definitely be offered but I do want to assure the court and Theo’s family that process is underway.”
The prospect of a reward is something Theo’s father, Laurent Hayez, raised in a statement to media before the inquest began last Monday.
Theo’s disappearance and the police theory
Theo, aged 18 at the time, was last seen on CCTV after leaving Cheeky Monkey’s bar on Jonson Street in Byron Bay about 11pm on May 31, 2019.
A phone data trail shows he walked to the cricket nets, then travelled to the Milne Track, near Paterson Street.
Location data shows he travelled along that track for some time before diverting onto dense bushland.
The last reliable location from his phone was Tallow Beach.
Police believe he tried to climb a grassy cliff above the northern part of that beach known as Cosy Corner toward the lighthouse, dropped his phone, tried to collect it, fell and was washed into the ocean.
Inquest hears from volunteer search member
Dr Sheri Todd, a key member of a group of residents involved in the search for any sign of Theo in the areas surrounding Byron Bay, gave evidence to the inquest on Friday.
Dr Todd told the inquest while Theo’s cousins Lisa Hayez and Michael Dorkhom led the initial effort to find him after he was reported missing, the community group took on a mammoth task of helping to search bushland.
She said particularly in the early days, there was a positive line of communication with police, who were in charge of a separate formal search effort.
“We didn't want to interfere or interrupt with the work they were doing,” she said.
But for “the comfort of Theo’s family”, she said the community volunteers wanted to make sure all avenues were covered.
She said this included searches from the Belongil area to Broken Head.
Outside court, Dr Todd expressed hope about the move toward a possible reward.
“I think together with the family we just feel incredibly relieved that Theo’s disappearance is starting to be investigated very thoroughly,” she said.
“Obviously, we’re very happy about the prospect of a reward that was announced today.”
Dr Todd said she and other residents had approached the inquest with a realistic outlook.
She said they hoped there would be “an open finding” from the coroner to allow investigations to continue.
“We don’t have the answers that we need at the moment,” she said.
On Thursday, a police officer spoke highly of the community volunteers involved in an extensive, exhaustive search for any sign of what happened to Theo.
It was that community group that ultimately found Theo’s grey Puma cap in bushland near Tallow Beach in July, 2019.
“The Byron community is a very passionate and compassionate community and there was just so much empathy thinking of Theo’s mum and dad and brothers and others in Belgium feeling so fearful and powerless being on the other side of the world so we wanted to step in and help them,” Dr Todd said.
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