Police, SES search McCreadys Creek for missing man Scott Billingham

The partner of a Qld dad who vanished about two weeks ago has made an emotional plea for information, as police hold ‘grave’ concerns for his safety. LATEST

The partner of a Mackay region dad missing for almost a fortnight has emotionally pleaded for anyone with information to come forward and help end the “nightmare”, as police prepare to re-enact his last movements.

Scott Billingham had been drinking with friends at The Grove along Andergrove Rd on Friday, March 8 before police believe he was dropped off at a shopping precinct along Emperor Dr, a short three km drive away, about 5.20pm.

He has not been seen since, despite a four-day search covering five km of difficult terrain including bushland and a mangrove-laden winding creek.

Kylie Gunters was in tears at a media conference in Mackay on Wednesday as she begged anyone with information to come forward.

“I need Scott to come home, every day is a nightmare,” she said.

“Somebody has to have some information to help get him home to me.

“Scott if you hear this, I love you and I miss you so much and I cannot do this without you.

“I’m not ever going to stop looking, you just need to come home please.”

Kylie Gunder has made an emotional plea for anyone with information on her partner Scott Billingham, who has been missing in the Mackay region for almost two weeks, to come forward so police can bring him home.

Mackay Criminal Investigation Branch Detective Senior Sergeant Chris Eaton said as Mr Billingham’s disappearance approached the fortnight mark, police held “grave” concerns for his safety.

On Friday, March 22, police will dress a dummy in the clothes Mr Billingham was last seen wearing, including an orange hi-vis long sleeve shirt and long blue pants with reflective stripes, and erect it near Emperor Dr.

Officers will also interview passing motorists in the hopes it could elicit information.

Scott Billingham (right) was last seen near Emperor Dr in Andergrove where police erected a forward command post (top left) to coordinate search efforts before establishing a separate post at the McCready Creek boat ramp off Aspley Way, also in Andergrove, on Tuesday, March 19.

“People just don’t disappear into thin air, we strongly believe that Scott was around that Emperor St in Andergrove around about that 5.20pm mark,” Sergeant Eaton said.

He added members of the public could have information they may not realise could help find Mr Billingham whose disappearance was “out of character”.

Officers from Brisbane’s Crime and Intelligence Command will also fly into Mackay to bolster search efforts.

“Police have conducted extensive searches over a four day period of the McCready Creek area,” Sergeant Eaton said.

“That search has included police and SES personnel on foot, using drones, boats and also helicopters.”

Sergeant Eaton said searches of the “challenging area” had failed to turn up any information on the 38-year-old father’s whereabouts and they were appealing to the public to help find him.

Mackay Criminal Investigation Branch Detective Senior Sergeant Chris Eaton said officers held grave concerns for the safety of Scott Billingham, who went missing in Mackay on Friday, March 8, 2024. Picture: Heidi Petith

He said police were hoping to speak to anyone who was in Andergrove after 5pm on Friday, March 8, including those who may have dashcam or CCTV footage between the hours of 5pm and midnight around Emperor Dr.

He said they also wanted to chat to anyone who knew more about a man who was spotted either swimming or washing in the water near the McCready Creek boat ramp off Apsley Way in Andergrove on Saturday, March 9.

“If that person was you, we would ask you to come forward and notify police so we can rule you out of our investigation,” Sergeant Eaton said.

“We are not in a position at all to say (Mr Billingham’s) disappearance is suspicious but we also cannot rule that out, so we are very much in the beginnings of a complex missing persons investigation.”

Emergency services were searching McCready’s Creek (left) for Scott Billingham (right) who was last spotted on Friday, March 8 near Emperor Dr in Andergrove.

Mr Billingham has distinctive tattoos on his neck, arm, ribs and the backs of his legs, and is about 175cm tall with a proportionate build and a bald head.

Sergeant Eaton said he has a medical condition but it does not require medication.

He said police on Friday established a forward command post on a vacant block sectioned between Emperor Dr, Porpoise Dr and Dugong Dr, which backed onto bushland and bordered MacKillop Catholic Primary School.

Then on Tuesday officers erected a command post at the McCready’s Creek boat ramp with vessels on the water and an RACQ CQ Rescue helicopter crew searching from the sky.

Sergeant Eaton said officers from Brisbane’s Crime and Intelligence Command would fly to Mackay on Thursday to join officers from Mackay’s Tactical Crime and General duties squads to continue their investigation.

You can contact police via Policelink or report anonymously via Crime Stoppers quoting reference number: QP2400427749.

Originally published as Police, SES search McCreadys Creek for missing man Scott Billingham