The Lighthouse: Searching for Theo Hayez

A missing tourist. A celebrity town. A search like no other. David Murray investigates the disappearance of backpacker Théo Hayez.

The Lighthouse: searching for Theo Hayez

Théo Hayez is missing in Byron Bay, a beachside town on Australia’s most easterly mainland point, frequently in the spotlight for its famous residents.

Théo, 18, from Brussels, was on a backpacking holiday when he vanished in May 2019. Behind the scenes local volunteers who have never met Théo have been searching and investigating with Théo’s family, parallel to a major police investigation.

At the request of Théo’s family, The Australian’s national crime correspondent, David Murray, joined the unofficial search party, investigating the mystery disappearance for the past three months for a new podcast series, The Lighthouse, starting today.

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A missing tourist. A celebrity town. A search like no other. The Australian's new podcast, The Lighthouse, launches Friday: theaustralian.com.au/thelighthouse

Posted by The Australian on Thursday, 31 October 2019

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Episode 1: Lost in Byron Bay

Belgian backpacker Theo Hayez dropped into Byron Bay in late May 2019, enticed by the town’s unique allure of bohemian life, beautiful surf beaches and a sprinkling of international celebrity glamour. Then he disappeared without a trace.

As it dawns on his family that he’s been silent online for six days, they mobilise a search, aided by Byron locals who never knew Theo but refuse to accept a visitor to their town could simply vanish.

Timeline:Theo Hayez’s last known whereabouts

Key people:Those you’ll hear from, or about, during the podcast

More stories: Investigating the disappearance of Theo Hayez

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Episode 2: Tracked

As word of Theo Hayez’s disappearance spreads around Byron Bay, concerned locals leap into action. One local suspects drink spiking and leads a small search party through bushland near the centre of town, where there’s a maze of occupied and abandoned homeless camps. But leads are sparse, and the police are baffled. The real information is hidden in Theo’s online accounts. His family sets about cracking into that digital vault, desperate for any information when every minute counts, with remarkable results.

Google map:Track Theo’s journey

More:Google maps clues to Theo Hayez’s vanishing

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Episode 3: Ransom

Once Theo’s family cracked his online accounts, they had a clearer picture of his path on the night he disappeared. So, aided by the local community, they begin to retrace his steps. But after the local police abandoned their search, and psychics stepped in, things become confusing for those on the ground.

Video: Theo Hayez shown entering and leaving Cheeky Monkey’s

More:Messages claim Theo kidnapped

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Episode 4: Into the dark

Byron Bay is known an idyllic tourist town where celebrities and influencers spend their summers. But as the locals know, there’s a darker side to life here. Retracing Theo’s path through the Arakwal National Park raises more questions and contradictions about what happened the night he disappeared, and reveals a hidden community that most visitors to Byron never see.

Google map:Track Theo’s journey

More: Theo Hayez ‘hiding’ theory linked to illegal parties

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Episode 5: The cliffs

The mystery of an abandoned campsite next to the Tallow Beach sand dunes adds new urgency to the search for Theo. Who lived there, and did they know anything about what happened to him the night he disappeared? And some recent history around the Cosy Corner cliffs presents a possible scenario for what may have happened to Theo.

More: Mystery man linked to Theo’s last location

More:Son’s tumble sparks cliff-fall suspicion over Theo

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Episode 6: The way forward

Six months after Theo’s mysterious disappearance, fresh revelations are opening new possibilities on what happened that night in Byron Bay. His father Laurent returns to Australia to walk through the bush at night for the first time, and the local community organises a ceremony to maintain momentum.

More:Side of the road sighting ignored

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Statement from Theo’s parents

“We would like to express our gratitude to David Murray and The Australian for their commitment to telling the story of Théo’s disappearance in the upcoming podcast. We welcome this collaboration with hope that answers can be found. We believe that Théo was not alone on the night that he disappeared and that sooner or later somebody must speak out. We are blessed to have the support of the incredible community in Byron Bay and loving friends and family. We have worked closely with David in the development of this podcast and believe that, along with the coroner’s investigation, it is the best way forward for now. We will not give up until we know what happened to Théo.”

~ Laurent Hayez and Vinciane Delforge

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Do you know more about Theo’s disappearance? You can confidentially send information to David Murray at [e-mail]