Five missing people from the southeastern suburbs and the mystery behind their disappearances
Every year, thousands of Victorians go missing. Most are found, but some continue to haunt the hearts and mind of their families, friends and southeastern suburbs residents. See the list:
South East
Don't miss out on the headlines from South East . Followed categories will be added to My News.
Capturing the global imagination, missing people and their stories are material used in numerous television shows, books and documentaries, but very rarely do people think about those who have gone missing from their own suburb.
In Victoria, around 21 people are reported missing to the police everyday.
On average, 44 per cent of those reported missing are found within 48 hours, with most either safe and well, or having made contact with their concerned family and friends.
However, not everybody is located or makes contact, leaving heartbreak and mystery woven into the fabric of their loved ones’ lives forever.
Here are five people who have gone missing from the southeastern suburbs:
.
Jake Lyons
Jake Lyons, 20, disappeared from his Dandenong North home on August 25 in 2014.
Jake’s mate was the first to discover him missing, when he arrived at the home Jake shared with his dad – Rick – finding the house unlocked with the gas stove still on.
Rick also returned later that day to discover his Holden Astra station wagon missing.
He attempted to contact Jake numerous times that night, assuming his son had used the car and was simply out.
After not hearing from Jake over the next few days, Rick reported him missing.
Investigators later found the missing Holden Astra outside soccer club rooms at the Warner Reserve in Springvale on August 31, 2014.
Jake was not inside and hasn’t been seen since, with his bank cards and accounts remaining untouched.
Family and friends have said Jake’s disappearance was “extremely out of character”.
One decade on, police are still investigating his disappearance.
On the 10-year anniversary of Jake vanishing, detective Acting Inspector Anthony Combridge from the Missing Persons Squad said the anniversary was “an opportunity”.
“The anniversary of Jake’s disappearance gives us an opportunity to remind people that we are still investigating,” he said.
“We are still fighting for answers for Jake’s family, no matter how hard those answers might be.”
Jake would be 30 years old today.
Shiva Chauhan
Shiva Chauhan, 27, disappeared after sending a late night text message in 2014.
The alarm was raised after Shiva did not turn up to a prearranged appointment on May 2, and it was later discovered he had not completed a delivery while working on May 1.
Shiva sent one final text on the night of his disappearance before vanishing.
Police found his van on Hutton Rd in Keysborough on the afternoon of May 2, where his personal belongings, wallet and ID were all still inside.
On the 10th anniversary of his disappearance, Shiva’s brother Dinesh spoke to the Herald Sun, saying his family was “praying” for his safe return.
“The past decade has been very hard for us, and harder for my parents,” Dinesh said.
“As they have aged, they have always hoped for Shiva to come back. They pray to God for his wellbeing and now after waiting for so long, they have grown old and very sick.”
Dinesh said his brother’s disappearance left a hole in the family.
“No words will do justice to express my feelings about your absence, dear brother. I miss you every second and wait for you to come back,” Dinesh said.
Detective Acting Inspector Anthony Combridge from the Missing Persons Squad said police would “thoroughly investigate” any new information provided on Shiva’s disappearance.
Shiva would be 37 years old today.
Sally Cheong
Sally Cheong, 23, vanished from her Oakleigh family home on April 2 in 2008.
Leaving home without her wallet, phone or car keys, Sally’s disappearance has baffled investigators.
She also left behind her iPod, a ‘security’ blanket she often carried and her car, and has also not used her bank account since she disappeared.
According to her family and friends, Sally’s disappearance was “very out of character”.
Sally’s friend Catherine Chia described her as “a gorgeous girl” in a blog post not long after her friend disappeared.
On March 3 in 2008, Sally emailed a male friend, expressing fear that he would hurt her.
“I’m afraid u gun me down, or get angry,” she wrote.
She has not been heard from since vanishing on April 2.
Sally would be 37 years old today.
Carolyn Mary Wilson
Carolyn Mary Wilson disappeared from her Somers home on April 17 in 2001.
A witness saw her leaving her Camp Hill Rd home in her green 1997 Daewoo Cielo sedan.
She was a secondary school teacher, with two children.
Carolyn called home and spoke to her husband on April 20, but did not indicate whether she would return.
She has not been heard from or seen since then.
Carolyn and her car remain missing.
She would be 80 years old today.
Sarah MacDiarmid
Sarah MacDiarmid, 23, vanished from the car park of Kananook railway station on the night of July 11 in 1990.
Her parents reported her missing the following morning when she did not return home.
Investigators conducted a forensic examination of her Honda Civic and the area it was parked, concluding that she had been attacked as she approached the car.
Her body has never been found.
Three decades on, the Missing Persons Squad and Homicide Squad have been unable to solve the mystery of Sarah’s disappearance, despite exhaustive investigation.
In February 2004 police posted a $1m reward for any information regarding her disappearance – that rewards remains on offer.
Police have urged anyone with any information on the whereabouts of these people to file a report with the Missing Persons Squad.
