Australia National Missing Persons Week: Anthony ‘Tony’ Jones family seek answers
The brother of a man allegedly murdered in the Queensland Outback more than 40 years ago has spoken out ahead of National Missing Persons Week. Here are the stories of some of North Queensland’s most chilling disappearances.
Townsville
Don't miss out on the headlines from Townsville. Followed categories will be added to My News.
WARNING: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised that this article contains images of a person or persons who may have died.
The brother of a man allegedly gruesomely murdered in mystery circumstances in the Queensland Outback more than 40 years ago has spoken out as part of Australia’s National Missing Persons Week.
The sombre week was launched in Townsville by the family of Anthony ‘Tony’ Jones six years after the young Western Australian’s disappearance in Hughenden on the Flinders Highway – sometimes referred to as the ‘Highway of Death – in November, 1982.
Tony’s brother Mark, speaking ahead of the NMPW 2024 launch in Townsville on Sunday, urged police investigators throughout Australia to contact the families of the missing persons and “use the availability of the media if they have a message they want to get across”.
“For myself, its been five and a half years since we last heard from the lead detective of the case; we know that it happens,” he said.
“We know that it is difficult for some detectives to face the family when they don’t have good news but we’re asking them to get over that – the rewards are there.”
“Sometimes, just speaking to the family will uncover something that might have been missed and sometimes just putting the story across in a different way can bring about something new.”
Mr Jones said that was true of his brother’s case, “bringing virtually every lead we’ve had over the last 40 years”, including a News Corp article in late 2022 that he said had resulted in fresh leads.
He has long criticised the investigation into the death of his brother, which he believed occurred between November 2 and 5, with Queensland Police Service maintaining the disappearance occurred following an altercation at the then Grand Hotel on the evening of November 12.
Mr Jones, speaking on Friday, said the information, passed to police, helped fill in some of the gaps in a horror picture of Tony’s last moments.
He said his “beaten and bloodied” brother, aged just 20, was seen staggering out the front of the hotel – razed by fire in November 2018 – by two men he believed were responsible for the alleged murder and who are still alive today.
“The two men pursued Tony, found him hiding in a drain, continued to attack him and took him to the (Hughenden) Slaughter Yards.”
Mr Jones said Tony was allegedly put in a pit, doused in fuel and burned alive.
He said that a female witness at an inquest hearing into the disappearance had testified that one of the suspects had confessed to her.
The Coroner ruled in 2002 that Mr Jones had died “at the hands of a person or persons unknown” and reopened the case in 2010 with a date not yet set to deliver the findings.
There is currently a $500,000 reward on offer for information as part of the ongoing investigation.
Mr Jones said questions had to be asked after 14 years.
“Tony’s sister and father have passed away since we learned about critical eyewitnesses, and we are left wondering ‘when it will all end?’.”
A QPS spokesman confirmed on Friday that the coroner had carried out the coronial investigation.
“As such, investigators provide relevant information to the Coroner’s office who, in turn, act as a family liaison and relay information as appropriate,” the spokesman said.
“As the matter remains an active investigation, it would be inappropriate to provide further comment on specific investigative strategies and operational matters.”
The mystery is one of a number of missing person cases being highlighted as part of NMPW 2024.
The Australian Federal Police is this week calling on the public to come forward with new information that could help provide answers to the disappearances.
The AFP’s National Missing Persons Coordination Centre on Sunday launched its Always Searching campaign, focusing on eight missing women, including Queenslander Tanya Buckland.
Ms Buckland, who would today be aged 47, was last seen alive in Warwick west of Tweed Heads in August 2013.
Additional active Queensland cases include:
Bamboo, Frederick
Mossman man Fredrick Bamboo was last seen on Palm Island at a funeral in June 1995. He would be 75 if alive today.
Brogden, Jay
Jay Anthony Brogden was last seen in Cannonvale, North Queensland, after an argument with his girlfriend on April 21, 2007. He had been involved in an argument with his girlfriend earlier in the evening. He was reported missing on May 2, 2007.
Caulton, Van Edward
Van Edward Caulton was last seen at Charters Towers Hospital on March 22, 2006. He would be 78 if alive today. He would be 38 if alive today.
Chisholm, Ben
Townsville Police are seeking help to find Ben Chisholm who was last seen in Nelly Bay on Magnetic Island on July 13, 2022. He would be 24 if alive today.
Devitt, Michael
Prior to his disappearance on March 31, 2015, Michael Devitt was living in Cannonvale near Airlie Beach. He would be 62 if alive today.
Dixon, Anthony
Anthony Dixon was last seen by friends at his address in Urangan, Hervey Bay, on March 31, 2015. He would be 38 if alive today.
Farlow, John
John Farlow, an avid walker who lived on an old mining least in Anakie, was last seen in Yeppoon in November 1996. He would be 91 if alive today.
Fuller Steven
Steven Fuller, a man of no fixed abode, was last seen in Lowood on or about March 1, 2015. He left all his possessions, including his medication, at an address in the southeast Queensland town. He would be 51 if alive today.
Hazelgrove, Jason
Jason Hazelgrove was last seen in Gympie July 1, 2010. His family say the fact he has not been in contact or left his home with his vehicle is out of character. He would be 52 if alive today.
Hines, John
John Hines was last left his home in Coombabah to meet friends in Southport on May 30, 1997, and vanished. He would be 58 if alive today.
Isles, Michael
Queensland Police Senior Sergeant Michael Isles was last seen at Ayr in North Queensland on September 23, 2009. He would be 73 if alive today.
Jourdan, Sandren
There are concerns for the welfare of Sandrine Jourdan was last seen leaving an address in Caboolture in July 2012. She would be 49 if alive today.
Lorenz-Schrader, Michael
Michael Lorenz-Schrader, known as ‘Adrian’ by close friends and family, was last seen at Gordonvale by his father in August or September 1996. He would be 60 if alive today.
Newbon, Michael
Michael Newbon left his home on Bribie Island on October 9 2013 and has not been seen or heard from since. He would be 84 if alive today.
Malayta, Linden
Linden Jeffery Malayta was just 15 years of age when he disappeared in mystery circumstances. The teen, from Ayr, was last seen in the Townsville area on or about March 18, 2019. There is a $500,000 reward on offer for information about his disappearance. He would be 20 if alive today.
Malayta, Phillip
Phillip Malayta, the uncle of Linden, may have also have met with foul play after going missing from Ayr. He was last seen driving a green Toyota Avalon sedan near Rita Island Road, Jarvisfield, on the morning of Sunday, December 10, 2023. The vehicle was subsequently recovered.
Mietus, Marc
Queensland Police Service believe that Marc Mietus was murdered on an unknown date in late January 2000. He was last being picked up by a group of unidentified men from an address in Booyal on January 26. He would be 45 if alive today.
Menzies, Tamela
Tamela Menzies was last seen at Palm Beach July 20, 1995, and after calling her mother on July 23, has not been heard from again. She would be 52 if alive today.
Orme, Brett
Brett Orme was last at Iron Bark Gully in Samford on August 13, 2023. He was believed to be driving a white Nissan Navara with the Queensland registration 354WAN. He would be 55 if alive today.
Te-Wake, Daniel
Daniel Te-Wake was last seen leaving the Cairns City Backpackers located in Draper Street on April 6, 2020. His white 1989 Toyota Camry sedan with Queensland registration 335ZDS was discovered parked ‘crookedly’ south of Fishery Falls on the side of the Bruce Highway on April 7. He would be 46 if alive today.
O’Shea, Kathleen
Kathleen O’Shea was last seen Atherton in late 2005. She would be 62 if alive today.
Sargent, Sean
Sean Sargent has been missing following a party at Hawkins Drive, St Lucia, Brisbane on March 19, 1999. His blue 1992 EB falcon sedan Queensland registration 746 ENN is also missing. He would be 49 if alive today.
Smith, Penelope
Penelope Smith was last seen in Toowong, Brisbane at on November 7, 2005. She is believed to have been driving a 2003 silver Holden Astra Hatch, Queensland registration 536 HUH. She would be 76 if alive today.
Steinhardt, Wayne
Wayne Steinhardt, 65, frequented camping grounds in southeast Queensland, telling his family in July, 2010, that he was moving from the Samford Showgrounds to Rathdowney. That was the final time he communicated with his family. He was reported missing in November, 2011. He would be 72 if alive today.
Stokes, Carolyn
Carolyn Stokes left her home for an afternoon walk in Redcliffe and has not been sighted since. She would be 74 if alive today.
Sutton, Chad and Melony
Chad Sutton and his sister Melony Sutton from Inala were last seen walking to school after missing the bus November 23, 1992. It was later believed that the pair were intending to hitchhike to Perth. Chad would be 48 and Melony 46 if the pair were alive today.
Toplek, Biserka
Biserka Toplek, known as Bibby, was last seen in Caloundra in August, 1997, and has not made contact with friends or family since. AFP said she was known to frequent RSL and Bowls clubs and stays in caravan parks. She would be 66 if alive today.
Watkins, Johnathon
Johnathon Watkins was last seen walking from his home at Montville on the Sunshine Coast hinterland on July 25, 2001. He would be 58 if alive today.
If you have information that will help police to locate any of the missing individuals please call Crime Stoppers on 1800333000.
The full list of missing Australians and full details can be found on the AFP website.
More Coverage
Originally published as Australia National Missing Persons Week: Anthony ‘Tony’ Jones family seek answers
Officer injured, car destroyed after fire at jail
A prison officer was taken to hospital after a routine burn-off at the Townsville jail’s low-security farm turned dangerous, with strong winds reigniting a grass fire that destroyed a new work ute.
WATCH: Pups rescued as massive fire engulfs car yard
Footage shows the moment police officers rushed to rescue animals from properties near a massive industrial fire that broke out in Mount Isa recently. Watch it here.
‘Horrible’: Qantas flight in 6000m emergency descent
A Townsville to Brisbane flight has had to be diverted to Rockhampton after a reported cabin pressure issue forced it to drop more than 6000 metres in a matter of minutes.
Townsville crime drops, but brazen thieves still run rampant
Townsville’s crime stats might be heading in the right direction, with break-ins down 30 per cent in the past eight months, but locals say they’re still living in fear as car thieves continue to run wild. See the data breakdown here.
‘A joke’: Cowboys fans irate over airlines ‘price gouging’ for finals flights
North Queensland’s stunning progression to the NRL semi-finals in Sydney has left fervent fans scrambling for affordable flights, with some already forking out $1500+ to cheer on their team.
‘I’ll shoot you in the head’: Kid sentenced for armed robberies
A 16-year-old who stole food from a NightOwl was dismissive when the lone cashier threatened to call the cops, saying “what are they going to do?” - see how he was sentenced in court.