Waratah footballer Jeremiah Rivers’ disappearance in remote southwest Queensland now being treated as suspicious

The disappearance of Waratah footy player Jeremiah Rivers, who has now been missing for three weeks in Queensland, is now being treated as suspicious.

THE disappearance of Waratah footy player Jeremiah Rivers, who has now been missing for three weeks in Queensland, is now being treated as suspicious.

The homicide squad has now joined the search for the missing 27-year-old who was last seen near Wippo Creek, about 20km south of Noccundra, on October 18.

He had been camping with a group of friends when he went for a walk in the bush and failed to return.

Extensive land and aerial searches have so far failed to locate the footy player and an incident centre has been established at the Cunnamulla police station.

Southern Regional Crime Coordinator, Detective Acting Superintendent Stephen Blanchfield said the matter was now being treated as suspicious as there had been no confirmed sightings.

“We are urging anyone who may have information relating to the movements of Jeremiah and we are specifically calling for anyone with information regarding his disappearance to contact us,” Mr Blanchfield said.

“We would like to provide answers to Jeremiah’s family and locate him.”

A GoFundMe page has been set up by family to support the search with money raised now exceeding $15,000.

UPDATE: FRIENDS and family of Jeremiah “Jayo” Rivers are pleading for help to find the Waratah player after the search was scaled back.

Mr Rivers, 27, was last seen near Wilsons River, south of Noccundra in Queensland on Monday, October 18.

The search included assistance from police and SES personnel, which has since been scaled back.

Family members begged for help on social media, with many flying from Darwin and Western Australia to join the search.

A GoFundMe page has been set up by family to support the search.

“Jayo was travelling from NSW back to Darwin NT after playing AFL in Balranald NSW with Balranald Roos,” his mother Joanne Rivers wrote.

“Jayo is one of eight siblings and is loved and cherished by a large extended family of the Rivers, Purdie in the Kimberleys and NT regions.

“He is an outgoing young man and avid Fremantle Dockers fan. It is out of character for Jayo not to contact his family. We are very concerned about this situation.”

He was last seen wearing a red Chicago Bulls singlet, red Adidas sneakers and black jeans.

Waratah football club showed plenty of support for Mr Rivers with all their senior teams wearing yellow arm bands over the weekend.

In a club statement the clubs said that they were also assisting his family who have since travelled to Queensland to assist in the search.

“Jayo has been an integral part of our Div 2 team for six years, he is a three time leading goal kicker and a premiership player,” the statement read.

“He is our friend, brother and our Div 2 team doesn’t feel complete without him.

“The club is assisting Jayo’s family with accommodation, as they have travelled to QLD to assist in the search, and do not have immediate access to funds.”

As part of investigations police are working with counterparts in New South Wales and ask for anyone with information to come forward immediately.

EARLIER: POLICE and emergency services have launched a massive search in Queensland’s remote southwest for missing West Australian man and Waratah footballer Jeremiah Rivers.

A listed player with the NTFL club since 2015, the 27-year-old went missing from a campsite near the Wilson River, 20km south of Noccundra on Sunday morning.

Mr Rivers’ family and nearby cattle station workers have joined in the search.

He is described as 185cm tall with a slim build and a tattoo of a cross under his right arm.

An indigenous man from Turkey Creek in Western Australia’s Kimberley Region, Mr Rivers arrived in Darwin with a big contingent of footballers six years ago.

Waratah president Rohan Langworthy said everyone was concerned for Mr Rivers’ safety and keeping a close watch as a result.

“Jeremiah came over with Timmy Mosquito and a group of boys from Turkey Creek from the Kimberleys six years ago,’’ Mr Langworthy said.

“He has played a lot of Division 2 games with the club, including a premiership, so he’s been a valuable member of the footy club.

“It’s been a bit hard to tell with the information we’re getting on what’s happening.

“But we do know he went for a walk away from the campsite and didn’t come back to camp.’’

The area where Mr Rivers went missing is very remote, being adjacent to the sparse Simpson Desert.

Mr Langworthy said the football community was still hopeful Mr Rivers’ experience in bush conditions would help him survive.