Cracking WhatsApp ‘key to finding Theo’

Theo Hayez’s dad has appealed for information, police “baffled” by his disappearance.

Laurent Hayez promised when he left Belgium last week that he would bring home his missing 18-year-old son, backpacker Theo Hayez.

Yesterday, Mr Hayez broke down at Tweed Heads police station as he asked for help to fulfil that promise.

“People have the power, let love rule,” he said through tears.

Theo was last seen leaving Cheeky Monkey’s bar in Byron Bay — where celebrities mix with backpackers, surfers and alternative lifestylers — about 11pm on Friday, May 31. Staff at the WakeUp! hostel contacted police on Thursday, June 6, after he failed to check out of his room.

Theo Hayez. Picture: AAP

His passport and personal belongings had been left behind, and his credit cards and phone have not been used.

Homicide detectives from Sydney have travelled to Byron to assist the investigation, while land searches yesterday focused on the Cape Byron Lighthouse area.

Superintendent Dave Roptell said his first question had been whether Theo had raised any concerns in the eight months he’d been in Australia.

“And no. Simply, no. That’s why this is baffling,” Superintendent Roptell said.

A chat on Facebook Messenger with a relative early on Saturday, June 1, had mentioned bands coming to Australia. A signal from his mobile phone was last picked up by towers at 1.42pm on June 1, but police believe it was in sleep mode.

His father said WhatsApp messages his son sent on the night he disappeared could be the key to his whereabouts.

Mr Hayez called on the messaging service to immediately ­release the messages to investigators, saying “every minute counts”.

“We understand the politics about confidentiality and respect that. However, this is a question of providing assistance to a person in grave danger.

“It is vital that investigators get access to Theo’s WhatsApp ­account without delay.”

CCTV footage released yesterday shows Theo at a bottle shop about 7.45pm on the Friday. He was dressed in a black hooded jumper with a white design on the front, long beige pants, a cap and black shoes.

Superintendent Roptell said it was hoped the footage would jog someone’s memory.

“You saw the emotions,” he said after Mr Hayez’s appeal.

“It is heartbreaking and we understand it, wish we had some leads. It is difficult.”

Police were “making inquiries” with WhatsApp, he said.

Mr Hayez travelled to Australia with the help of a crowd-funding campaign that has raised more than $63,000.

Any remaining money after his son was found would be split between Australian and Belgian charities dedicated to finding missing people, he said.