Police make Brisbane arrest in search for man and mother missing from Gold Coast

Police have made a dramatic arrest in the search for a Gold Coast man and his mother missing from Elanora since Tuesday.

A crime scene at Elanora on Tuesday.

Police have made a dramatic arrest in the search for a Gold Coast man and his mother missing from Elanora since Tuesday.

Specialist police officers arrested Jamie Sleeman at a home in the western suburbs of Brisbane just before 5pm on Wednesday afternoon.

There has so far been no sign of his mum, 61-year-old Wendy Sleeman, or the blue Honda they were believed to be travelling in.

Police now hold grave fears for the safety of the missing woman, who has been identified as Wendy Sleeman, a Labrador dog enthusiast and former breeder. Picture: Facebook

Police have said they hold grave fears over the “highly suspicious” disappearance of Ms Sleeman, a Labrador dog enthusiast and former breeder, whose home has become a crime scene after a large amount of blood was found there amid “clear signs of violence”. There was also a fire at the property. 

Police divers were called in on Wednesday afternoon, trawling the large lake behind her home. Divers retrieved items including knives from the lake for examination by police forensics investigators.

Regional crime co-ordinator Detective Superintendent Brendan Smith earlier said Ms Sleeman had come home to find an apparent burglary “and within half an hour she’s disappeared”.

Police were seeking urgent assistance to locate a missing woman from the Gold Coast, and a man, believed to be her son. Photo: QPS

He said there were “clear signs of violence” at the home and confirmed a fire had been lit but it had been quickly extinguished.

Emergency services were called to the home on Ironbark St at Elanora just after 3.30pm on Tuesday.

Sources say the front of the house was on fire and blood stains were found.

Police divers join in the search for Ms Sleeman in the lake behind her Gold Coast home.

Police later issued a release seeking urgent assistance to locate the 61-year-old Gold Coast woman and a 30-year-old man who may be able to assist with their inquiries into “an incident” at the Elanora address. The man is understood to be her son Jamie, who has changed his name to Slade Murdok. Ms Sleeman has owned the Ironbark St property since 1990, according to property records. Supt Smith said there had been “ongoing issues” between Ms Sleeman and her son.

SES workers join the search for Wendy Sleeman. Picture: Greg Stolz

She had complained to police that her son had visited her workplace on Tuesday.

Supt Smith said police were treating the disappearances as “highly suspicious”.

He said police were “super keen” for information on the blue Honda Jazz as well as a white Ford Laser that Mr Murdok had been driving.

Supt Smith said there was information that Mr Murdok had returned to the address on Tuesday night to locate the Ford Laser and that he may now be in the Brisbane area.

SES workers join the search for Wendy Sleeman. Picture: Greg Stolz

Supt Smith said Ms Sleeman’s disappearance was “very out of character” and detectives believed a dispute had happened between her and her son.

He said “various government agencies” had been involved in trying to resolve ongoing “problems” between Ms Sleeman and her son.

“That’s part of the ongoing investigation,” he said.

Supt Smith said police believe it was “clearly a targeted issue between mother and son” and “there’s no issue for public concern that it’s a random attack”.

Police Forensic officers scour a property at Ironbark Street Elanora, after a woman went missing from the house. Picture Glenn Hampson

“The (crime) scene behind would indicate that there’s been some violence there and there’s also evidence to show that a fire had been commenced.

“We’re coming on now 17 hours since she was last heard from. Someone would have seen this car (the blue Honda), someone would have heard or seen something, so please come forward.”

Officers were seen guarding the site late into Tuesday night and neighbours woke on Wednesday to find police had taped off a second home.

Police have cordoned off two properties. Picture Glenn Hampson

At one of the homes taped off by police children’s bikes and scooters can be seen by the door.

Neighbour Sergio Brito said he came home around 5pm on Tuesday to see police at the homes.

“We didn’t see much,” he said

“It’s just a quiet street. Hopefully cops are gonna do their job and find out who did the bad thing.”

Police remained at the Elanora crime scene late into Tuesday night.

An undated photo of Wendy Sleeman and her son Jamie, now known as Slade Murdok.

Mr Brito said he had not seen any commotion at the house previously. Another neighbour said she did not know the residents but thought the incident was “very suspicious”. Police urge Mr Murdok, Ms Sleeman or anyone or anyone with information regarding their location to contact them urgently and for the public to not approach the Mr Murdok.

Originally published as Police make Brisbane arrest in search for man and mother missing from Gold Coast