‘Nightmare in paradise’: Theo Hayez’s parents return seeking answers from police

Theo Hayez father has returned to where his son went missing three months ago, calling scenic Byron Bay his “nightmare in paradise”.

The father of missing Belgian backpacker Theo Hayez has returned to Australia to meet with police, three months after his son went missing in northern NSW.

Laurent Hayez, who has spent considerable time in Byron Bay since his son, Theo Hayez, went missing on May 31, said he and his family are living a “nightmare in paradise”, referring to the town’s famed beauty.

“It’s a beautiful place. It’s a paradise,” he told The Australian. “It’s like we are living a nightmare in paradise.”

Theo, 18, disappeared after leaving Cheeky Monkey’s bar in Byron about 11pm on May 31, and hasn’t been seen since. His mobile phone was traced to the area near the Cape Byron Lighthouse, where it last pinged on June 1. However, police believe the phone may have been in sleep mode when it sent its last signal.

“We still have hope. Not a lot of hope, because we are realistic,” Laurent said yesterday.

“But we would like to have answers to questions we ask.”

“We have an appointment with the police. We hope we will receive answers to the questions we asked them last month.”

Mr Hayez will meet with police sometime this week, and will make a renewed public appeal for information following the briefing.

It’s unclear if NSW Police will provide an update on their investigation this week. The teenager, who was due to return home and study engineering after travelling Australia, has now been missing for over three months.

A month ago Laurent left police with questions that he hopes to have answered.

Missing Belgium backpacker Theo Hayez was last seen in Byron Bay on May 31.

Theo has now been missing for over three months.

One of the questions Laurent raised with police before he departed Australia was the possibility that his son could be “enlisted, kidnapped, drugged” in one of the region’s communes.

Laurent said the search had been suspended while police gathered more information on numerous leads.

After Theo’s disappearance, an extensive search began and hundreds of members of the community helped trained State Emergency Service crews, NSW Surf Lifesavers, dogs and drones.

Still, no conclusive trace of Theo has been detected. Police earlier said they were “baffled” by the disappearance.

On July 3, NSW Police officially called off physical searches for Theo. The police investigation into what happened to the teenager has continued, with police earlier telling news.com.au they had a “considerable” amount of information to go over.

Tweed Byron Police earlier told news.com.au that “multiple occupancy, alternate lifestyle communities” made up a part of a larger investigation.

Police have not yet publicly reported any strong leads indicating what happened to Theo.

A dedicated search crew, run by concerned locals and volunteers, has continued to look for the missing backpacker, or any trace of him, since police suspended their formal search at the beginning of July.

Anyone with information is urged to contact police.

News.com.au contacted Tweed/Byron Police but did not receive a response.