Persons of interest arrested in Tony Rowe disappearance case

Police always treated Tony Rowe’s disappearance after a night at a Territory tavern as suspicious. Now how they tracked two people interstate and charged them can be revealed.

Details into a missing person cold case can be revealed after police made two interstate arrests over the death of Tony Rowe, nearly a year on from his disappearance.

Mr Rowe left the Hibiscus Tavern on May 28, 2022 where he was seen drinking with a group of people and was not seen again.

Since that date police have been working closely with their interstate counterparts in Queensland and Western Australia to help provide his family, particularly his mother, with a resolution.

A 21-year-old woman was arrested in Western Australia earlier this month and has been charged with tampering with false statements and destruction of evidence.

Meanwhile, 29-year-old man Timothy Hunt was extradited from Queensland and was charged with one act of dangerous act causing death.

Both will appear in Darwin Local Court for a second time on July 12.

Tony Rowe's disappearance is being treated as suspicious. Picture: NTPFES

Police had kept the details of the protracted investigation secret for almost 12 months until the pair was arrested and extradited to the Territory.

Acting Deputy Commissioner Michael White said the pair was believed to have been at the same place at Mr Rowe prior to his disappearance.

“As a result of an extensive investigation NT police have arrested two people in relation to his disappearance,” Deputy Commissioner White said.

“We’ve been treating it as a homicide since May last year.

“He was with a group of people at a local establishment drinking and that was the last time he was seen.

“We understand (the man and woman) may have been with him at the time.

“We knew the persons of interest had travelled interstate so we’ve worked very closely with our colleagues in Queensland and Western Australia.”

Deputy Commissioner White said police had yet to locate Mr Rowe’s body, calling on the public to give information to help give his mother closure.

“He has not been found at this stage, but what we know is there was some sort of altercation,” he said.

“We’re working very closely with family to ensure ongoing updates as it has obviously caused no end of grief for them.

“I would like to acknowledge the excellent work by all the detectives in relation to the investigation and the support from the public to help facilitate the investigation.

“We’ve been working with his mother closely since he was reported missing, and we’re doing everything we can to find Tony to give her the final closure she needs to have.”

“The investigation is ongoing and we ask for anyone with information to call police on 131 44.

“People may not think a bit of information is critical but for us it may be, which is why we ask for information in relation to Tony’s disappearance.”

Originally published as Persons of interest arrested in Tony Rowe disappearance case