Fresh lead in case of missing Maclean man Daniel Copeland as father pleads for help from public

The family of a North Coast man dubbed “everybody’s friend” has made a heartfelt appeal for help as fears grow he’s fallen victim to “foul play”. See the video.

Maclean man Daniel Copeland was last seen on River St on September 3.

The family of Maclean man Daniel Copeland have made a heartfelt plea for information about his fate after he uncharacteristically vanished in early September.

The 40-year-old has not been sighted or heard from since September 3, prompting an appeal for help from family and police at a press conference at Coffs Harbour on Monday morning.

“He just disappeared. He didn’t give notice to his work nor his girlfriend or any of his friends or family and this is totally out of character,” father Mark Copeland said.

“This disappearance has just baffled everyone.

“We just need to locate him whether the news is good or bad – we just need to find him.”

Mr Copeland was last seen on River St, Maclean, some 15 kilometres west of Yamba, about 4.30pm on September 3 – Father’s Day.

Daniel ‘Dan’ Copeland

“He was walking three blocks to his girlfriend’s home in Maclean and never reached his final destination,” a family spokesman stated.

Police have now revealed there is CCTV footage of a man they believe to be Mr Copeland travelling as a passenger in a 2012 silver Mitsubishi Lancer at Wooli on September 4.

There are “two or more” other people in the vehicle, Coffs/Clarence Police District crime manager Detective Acting Inspector Mark Rogers said.

He said police were treating the case as a missing person situation, but held “serious concerns” for Mr Copeland’s welfare.

It is believed Mr Copeland was seen travelling in this 2012 model silver Mitsubishi Lancer at Wooli on September 4.

Strike Force Illfracombe has been established and Mr Rogers said investigators had not ruled out Mr Copeland being the victim of “foul play”.

Mark Copeland – who travelled with his wife Jacqueline to Coffs from their home at Biggenden in Queensland – described his son as “a bit of larrikin” and “everybody’s friend”.

Also at the press conference were Mr Copeland’s girlfriend Tamara and his sister Rebecca.

Land and air searches have been conducted in the wake of Mr Copeland’s unexplained disappearance.

Land and air searches were held in the wake of Mr Copeland’s disappearance, focused on the northern NSW villages of Wooli, Tyndale and the town of Maclean.

These areas remain a focus in the police investigation.

Mr Copeland is described as being of caucasian appearance, about 165 centimetres tall, with a stocky build, blond-coloured mohawk haircut and a full right-arm sleeve tattoo.

He was last seen wearing Cowboys NRL shorts, a green long-sleeve shirt and black hoodie and Mr Copeland is known to frequent the Maclean and Yamba areas.

Know more? Phone Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or contact Grafton or Coffs Harbour police stations.