Marc Mietus cold case: Searchers scour Wide Bay property

Dozens of searchers have scoured a Queensland property in a renewed push to solve a near-quarter-century-old cold case.

State Emergency Service search volunteers at Booyal at the weekend

Dozens of State Emergency Service volunteers turned out to help police scour a rural property west of Childers in the Wide Bay region at the weekend in a fresh bid to solve the suspected murder of a young aspiring footballer.

Marc Mietus was 21 when he disappeared in 2000, just days after moving to Queensland for a fresh start.

He had been renting a caravan on the 44ha Booyal property – currently being searched by police – when he vanished.

Homicide cold case Detective Senior Sergeant Tara Kentwell announced on Friday the reward for information leading to the conviction of Mr Mietus’ killer had been increased to $500,000.

She said police were hoping to identify further evidence during the ground search.

“All previously identified witnesses and persons of interest are being reinterviewed and commencing (Saturday), a search will be conducted of the … property at Booyal with the assistance of local police and members of the SES, with the hope of identifying further evidence,” she said.

Det Sen Sgt Kentwell said Mr Mietus was a promising young footballer who had dreamt of playing AFL when he was dropped by a feeder club.

She said he took it badly, began using drugs and fell in with a bad crowd. Mr Mietus, who was born and raised in Melbourne, eventually left for Queensland.

He was very close with his family and asked his father, who had often helped him financially, to promise not to send him money if he called and asked.

Marc Mietus

Mr Mietus left for Queensland on January 6 and picked up a hitchhiker on the way.

That man lived on the Booyal property, along with various other people who also lived there in caravans.

By January 26, Mr Mietus owed rent. Eight days earlier he had been unable to pay for fuel after filling up his car.

“One witness advised police that on a day unknown around 26 January 2000 he saw a tan coloured XD model Ford sedan with an alloy bull bar and standard wheels leave (the Booyal property) and travel towards the Booyal Roadhouse, with Marc possibly as a passenger,” Det Sen Sgt Kentwell said.

“The exact date cannot be determined.

“To date this vehicle and the occupants have never been identified.”

She said police believe Mr Mietus was involved in the use and production of drugs at the time of his disappearance.

Mr Mietus’ father Kris said their family was desperate for answers and believed his son had been murdered.

“We’ve heard nothing. No bank accounts have been touched, nothing. So we know he’s been murdered,” he said.

“We really need closure by getting the people who did it to face justice.

“It’s been a tough journey.”

Crime Stoppers 1800 333 000

Originally published as Marc Mietus cold case: Searchers scour Wide Bay property