NT Police suspend search for missing 18-year-old Seth Puckridge

NT Police have called off the search for missing 18-year-old Seth Puckridge after a week-long air and land search.

UPDATE 6PM SAT: POLICE have called off the search for missing 18-year-old Seth Puckridge after a week-long air and land search.

Detective Senior Sergeant Paul Morrissey confirmed after a week of intense searches in the Herbert area, there was no sign of Mr Puckridge.

“We made the decision to call off the search, however the community can be reassured that investigations are ongoing and we are determined to locate Mr Puckridge,” Detective Morrissey said.

He thanked the community for its support and cooperation in the extensive land and air search.

Mr Puckridge was last seen around 9.30pm Thursday March 31 in the rural Darwin locality of Herbert.

He mysteriously left behind his bike, phone, identification, wallet and keys before disappearing without a trace.

Detective Morrissey said police were continuing to investigate the teen’s disappearance, and called on anyone with information on Mr Puckridge’s whereabouts is asked to contact police on 131 444.

UPDATE 6PM THURS: POLICE have continued to search for Seth Puckridge and said they aren’t ruling out finding him alive.

On Thursday, Major Crime Squad acting Detective senior sergeant Paul Morrissey said Police had found a series of notes and online messages.

“We aren’t discounting that he’s still alive and he has taken his own volition to go somewhere,” Sgt Morrissey said.

“He left notes and online messages, which would indicate that he’s left of his own volition and not suspicious circumstances.”

Srg Morrissey said the contents of the notes had caused serious concern for his welfare.

Seth Puckridge is described by family as a very much well-loved, community member; really kind, generous and beautiful boy. Picture: Supplied.

Furthermore, Srg Morrissey said the area around Herbert and Humpty Doo was dense, swampy bushland.

“We haven’t located a body, but we aren’t surprised we haven’t located Seth yet,” he said.

“The area concerned is surrounded by dense bushland …(and) is a swampy area as well.”

Police confirmed they had used significant resources to try and locate the Territory teenager, including quad bikes, motorbikes and helicopters.

Police praised the community efforts to help find Seth.

“There was a large number of community volunteers that assisted in the search and made their own inquiries,” Srg Morrissey said.

“And the family of the missing person are very thankful for them.”

Family have tirelessly searched for Seth, using a public Facebook page to co-ordinate their efforts.

“We would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your continued support, it means so much to family.”

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WEDNESDAY UPDATE: THE search for a Territory teenager, Seth Puckridge, is continuing.

In a statement on Tuesday Northern Territory Police said they were still searching for the 18-year-old who went missing from a rural area near Humpty Doo.

“Police are again asking anyone in the Herbert or Humpty Doo area to check their properties,” a police spokesman said.

“Anyone with knowledge of Seth’s whereabouts are urged to contact police immediately on 131 444 and quote reference 9967289.”

Family and community have tirelessly searched for Seth, using a public Facebook page to co-ordinate their efforts.

Just after midday on Tuesday a post to the page read: “We request that everyone remain mindful of the sensitivity around the situation for both family and extended members and to refrain from making any speculation. Thank you to all who have and are volunteering …”

EARLIER 6AM April 5: COMMUNITY members searching for missing teenager Seth Puckridge believe his last known movements may be crucial in locating the 18-year-old.

Mr Puckridge, 18, was last seen around 9.30pm in the rural Darwin locality of Herbert on Thursday, March 31.

He mysteriously left behind his bike, phone, identification, wallet and keys before “disappearing without a trace”.

Volunteer search co-ordinator Janette Wilson said the teenager’s actions on Thursday afternoon could be significant in explaining his disappearance.

“He rode his push back around on Thursday and was seen with a backpack on Thursday,” she told ABC Darwin on Monday.

“We feel he might have set up the location where he’s hiding out.

“But (on) Thursday night, he left home without his push bike. As far as we know, he’s left home without a torch, his friends didn’t see him when he left his personal belongings at their place. And he’s vanished in the night.”

More than 250 family members, friends, acquaintances and strangers have joined police in searching for the young man in the Darwin rural area.

IN PICTURES: Search operation continues for missing teen

UPDATE, 5pm Monday: A BELOVED Top End teenager has disappeared “without a trace”, leaving his family and authorities concerned for his welfare.

NT Police and the Top End’s rural community are continuing to search for 18-year-old Seth Puckridge, who was last seen on Ridley Rd, Herbert at 9.30pm on Thursday, March 31.

Missing teenager Seth Puckridge was last seen at his Herbert home on Thursday night. Picture: Supplied.

The Herbert resident and Woolworths Humpty Doo staffer mysteriously left behind his bike, phone, identification, wallet and keys.

Police have been conducting bushland searches in the area since Friday morning, deploying the mounted unit, helicopters and motorcycles.

On Sunday, community members joined police in the search. Volunteers, using the Humpty Doo Golf Club as a base, combed through kilometres of land surrounding the area Seth was last seen.

The Search for Seth Puckridge has been going since Sunday morning with locals putting up their hands to help conduct the search. Picture: Floss Adams.

More than 250 family, friends, acquaintances and strangers have participated in searching for the young man in dense and unforgiving bushland.

Search volunteer Shay Carter, speaking on behalf of the family, said they were “holding up as well as can be expected in this circumstance”.

“The family has been in contact with the superintendent and there is a lot going on in the background,” Ms Carter said. “(Seth is a) very much well-loved, community member; really kind, generous and beautiful boy.”

The community search team going over the areas that have and haven’t been searched. Picture: Floss Adams.

Neighbour Rick Schulte and his German shepherd Kahn searched the thick, tropical bushland on Monday morning for a gruelling three hours. Mr Schulte described the spear-grass riddled conditions as “hot, sticky, wet and muddy”.

“He’s (Seth) our neighbour about four blocks up, so we know his mum and she’s pretty concerned about the boy,” Mr Schulte said.

Line searches commence through an unsearched, dense block of land nearby the Humpty Doo Golf Club. Picture: Floss Adams.

“We’re hoping that he’s just hiding away with his mate somewhere but you’ve got to take the risk out the equation and that’s why we’re here.”

Local Allen Sutton is familiar with the area’s bushland and has been assisting with the search.

“We’re now into day five and the fact that Seth doesn’t have any bush skills of any note, we’re getting pretty close to getting quite cornered,” Mr Sutton said.

Local resident Jedd Mahoney joined in on the search for Seth with his quad bike. Picture: Floss Adams.

Detective Acting Senior Sergeant Paul Morrissey said Seth’s disappearance was unexpected and police held concern for his welfare.

“We encourage residents to search the grounds of their properties and report anything unusual,” he said.

Anyone with information is urged to call NT Police on 131 444 and quote reference 9967289.

EARLIER, 8am Monday: INVESTIGATORS are continuing their search for an 18-year-old man who “vanished without a trace” last Thursday, and mysteriously left behind his phone, ID, wallet and keys.

Seth Puckridge was last seen on Ridley Road, Herbert at 9.30pm on March 31.

He is described as a caucasian male with a fair complexion, approximately 180cm tall, of medium build with short brown hair.

Missing person Seth Puckridge was last seen in Herbert on March 31, 2022. Police are urging anyone with any information to come forward. Picture: PFES.

A search volunteer, Janette Wilson described the case a “serious mystery”.

Ms Wilson said the young man “vanished without a trace” leaving personal items behind at a friend’s house, including his ID, wallet, phone and keys.

“He’s obviously made plans to disappear – he doesn’t want to be found and I know we (need to) respect that, if he could just make contact and let people know he’s okay and the search will be called off,” Ms Wilson told ABC Darwin.

“But we are really seriously concerned for his welfare.”

Mr Puckridge is an employee of Humpty Doo Woolworths.

The search is continuing for the local man.

Police also request members of the public residing in the Herbert area check any CCTV they may have installed and notify police if they find any footage of interest.

Police are appealing for information from any members of the public who may have seen Seth or know of his current whereabouts to contact police on 131 444 – quoting police reference number 9967289.