Shock bikie kidnap theory in missing teen Markiah Major case

The inquest into the disappearance and suspected death of a missing Far North Queensland teen has heard a witness claims the 17-year-old was kidnapped by a bikie gang.

A shock new theory alleges Markiah Major may have stole a car without realising there was cash and drugs inside belonging to an underworld crime figure.

The inquest into the disappearance and suspected death of a missing Far North Queensland teen has heard a witness claims the 17-year-old was kidnapped by a bikie gang.

A coronial inquest into the disappearance of Markiah Major is being held in Cairns this week.

The Yarrabah teen has not been seen since August 15 last year.

The first witness, a minor who cannot be identified, said Markiah had been “hanging around the wrong people” and started using drugs in the months leading up to his disappearance.

The witness alleged Markiah had been stealing cars with his new group of friends when one night they said he stole “a flashy green car” which had a large quantity of drugs and cash inside.

The court heard the witness believed the car belonged to bikies.

Yarrabah woman Adelaide Sands is appealing for information on the whereabouts of her missing son Markiah Major, 17, who was last seen in Cairns on August 15. Picture: Brendan Radke

In the days following Markiah’s disappearance the witness said they saw an “Instagram photo”, showing Markiah strapped and shackled to a chair with blood on his head.

There was a large paragraph underneath the photo, but the witness said they did not remember what it said.

“I have trouble remembering things,” they told the court.

Before her testimony Coroner Stephanie Williams told the witness the most important rule was “to tell the truth”.

Ms Williams told the witness again at the end of her testimony “that it would be OK to say if this (what you had told us) was not true, you understand that don’t you?”

The witness responded yes.

Markiah Major has not been seen since August 15. Photo: Supplied

Other witnesses were also called indicating the inquest is exploring the presence of a car on August 19 in Yarrabah which was not known to the community, and parked at an obscure location near a spring water creek.

The car was at one stage seen unattended with a wallet of an unknown person inside, before it was later driven off.

Markiah went missing on August 15, but police were not alerted to his disappearance until September 2.

On November 21 and 22 last year, specialist police units including the dive squad, dog squad, Cairns Water Police and State Emergency Service volunteers conducted a third search of bushland at the end of Back Beach Rd. But no trace of Markiah was found.

The inquest continues this week, concluding on Wednesday.

Originally published as Shock bikie kidnap theory in missing teen Markiah Major case