Mackay region’s lost loved ones remembered for National Missing Persons Week
For National Missing Persons Week, we remember the mysterious disappearances of lost loved ones in the Mackay region and surrounds. See their faces and find out if you have information that could help.
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From a larrikin truck driver to a drug kingpin, the disappearances of these nine men across the Mackay region remain shrouded in mystery.
For National Missing Persons Week 2022, the Mackay community remembers the lost loved ones still unfound.
While the circumstances of their lives and disappearances vary wildly, the families of these missing persons still hold onto hope.
Anthony Strong
Anthony Strong has been missing since Thursday, November 9, 1995 when his brother saw him at a Sarina bus terminal – he was planning to travel to Thursday Island.
Mr Strong was spotted on November 13 at a post office on Thursday Island and has not been seen or heard from since this date.
He is described as being 160cm tall, with a medium build, fair complexion, hazel and brown hair that was balding.
He was born in 1927 and would now be aged 94.
Danny Walker
It has been more than 14 years since Danny Walker vanished.
He was last seen on May 21, 2008 in Mackay and spoke to family members on the phone a few days later – he said he planned to travel to Tasmania in a maroon Subaru sports wagon.
He hasn’t been seen or heard from again.
His dog Coffee may have been a travelling companion and a trailer may have been attached to the car.
Mr Walker was born in 1969 and would now be aged 52.
He is 195cm tall with a medium build, black hair, brown eyes and fair complexion.
Mr Walker has a large extended family, all of whom are extremely concerned for his welfare.
Jay Brogden
The 21 year old was last seen on April 21, 2007 at Cannonvale following an argument with his girlfriend.
He has not been seen since and his body has never been found. A $250,000 reward remains on his case.
However two men have since been charged over his homicide – alleged to have occurred over a drug debt.
And in May 2022 a Mackay Supreme Court jury found Gavin Phillip Parnell guilty of murdering Mr Brogden during a fishing trip.
The court heard Parnell shot Mr Brogden in the head and tipped his body over the side of the boat in waters off Shute Harbour. He was jailed for life.
Another man Braddon Charles Peter Butler is also charged with murdering Mr Brogden. His trial is listed for later this year.
Jamie Williamson
The former drug kingpin was last seen at a Bravus mine accommodation site on Moral Bulliwallah Road.
The 41 year old vanished on October 21, 2021 while on parole for drug trafficking.
A police search brought in Australian Defence Force and SES personnel to cover an area of 2000 sq km without success.
In 2006, police arrested Mr Williamson after discovering storage sheds containing $564,000 cash, 8kg of marijuana, 2kg of meth, thousands of ecstasy tablets, and several firearms.
Mr Williamson had received a 13-year prison sentence and was released on parole when he went missing.
Police have called on motorists to check dash cameras if they travelled near the Gregory or Bowen Developmental Roads between October 22 and 27 last year.
Michael Devitt
It’s been over 12 years since the 48-year-old father of three disappeared near Cannonvale in early 2010.
While the larrikin truck driver travelled interstate regularly, he would always make it back to Brisbane for the Devitt family Christmas lunch.
When he missed the birth of his grandchild, his family grew concerned.
Mackay Detective Inspector Brendan Smith said it was most likely Mr Devitt was deceased after meeting foul play.
His older brother Gary said Michael had moved to the Whitsundays to support a friend’s trucking business.
The Devitt family still hopes to find out what happened and hold a memorial service to celebrate his life.
He would be 60 this year.
Christopher Henn
The 84 year old was last heard from on the phone to his wife Wanna on December 18, 2021.
During the call, he is believed to have been driving toward the Pioneer Valley in a green 2009 model Subaru Forester, rego 164MSI, from his North Mackay home.
Police believe contact was lost with him in a bush area between Glenden and Eungella Dam.
Air, foot, and vehicle searches in the area have yet to locate Mr Henn.
Mrs Henn had been with her daughter in Sydney since early November and said she had been in contact with him every day until the 18th.
After returning home to Mackay, she made an emotional plea for help on December 27.
“Christopher, my dear husband, wherever you are, I hope you are in a safe place,” Mrs Henn said.
Peter Johnson
It’s been nearly two decades since the then 36 year old was last seen on April 17, 2003.
Mr Johnson’s green Ford ute was found abandoned along the Peak Downs Highway just north of Boundary Creek Bridge.
A mine worker in Glenden, he was reported missing by work colleagues.
When a full scale search found nothing, Mr Johnson’s family visited two psychics who both predicted he had been killed.
Investigating police said Mr Johnson could have met with foul play.
In 2012, a $250,000 reward was posted pleading for information about his disappearance.
For many years, Mr Johnson’s father George travelled to Mackay from his home in Victoria to continue the search for his son.
“I said I’d give it 10 years and sure enough it’s come up so quick,” he said in 2013.
Brando Sorensen
There are few details of the 33 year old’s disappearance on November 15, 1991.
Mr Sorenson was last seen in Mackay just three days from his birthday.
Police have listed a plastic surgery scar on his right temple and skin grafts on his back as distinguishing features.
He has been missing for more than 30 years and would be 64 years old today.
Timothy Pullen
The year 2022 was a sad anniversary for the Pullen family, who haven’t heard from the 34 year old in more than a decade.
He is presumed dead, so his parents put out a video (above) in April pleading for information about his remains.
Police believe Mr Pullen was murdered over a drug debt between $7000 and $30,000.
Around April 16, 2012, Tim was abducted from a friend’s unit on Valley Street where he was couchsurfing.
Those friends, Nicholas Voorwinden and Kiera McKay, left the door unlocked for the attackers and pleaded guilty to manslaughter in 2015.
Four men were jailed over the suspected murder, with mastermind Zane Tray Lincoln still imprisoned.
Mr Pullen’s mum Leanne said “who would ever have imagined 10 years on and we still haven't respectfully farewelled him?”
His body remains unfound.
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Originally published as Mackay region’s lost loved ones remembered for National Missing Persons Week
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