The Lost Ones: Ground-penetrating radar used in bid to find missing Tasmanian man Ian Nichols

It’s a missing persons case that reads like a book or a thriller, and was investigated in 2022 podcast The Lost Ones. Why family of missing man, Ian Nichols are bereft and furious.

IT’S a Tasmanian missing persons case that reads like a book or a thriller – and in 2022, the mystery seemed like it might finally get solved after a long and painful 33 years.

The Mercury can now reveal that following the release of podcast The Lost Ones in early 2022, and “based on new information”, the Australian Federal Police deployed forensic search and imagery specialists to Tasmania, using ground-penetrating radar to search for the body of Ian Nichols, who disappeared from Lake Sorell in 1989.

Mr Nichols’ family said while an “anomaly” was apparently discovered, Mr Nichols wasn’t.

And with all police resources now pulled from the case as of this week, his family are bereft – and furious.

According to Mr Nichols’ daughter Christine Behrens, the scan and dig at Lake Sorell in November was the first real action taken in the case since her beloved dad vanished without a trace when she was just 15.

Mrs Behrens has always believed her dad was murdered by an armed and violent man with a history of bragging about his kills.

She believes the man buried her father at the Red Rooster, a Vietnam War veterans’ retreat, and that the murder was potentially covered up by others with links to the killer.

Mrs Behrens has spent years tirelessly searching for leads in the case, posting regularly on Facebook for information – and has been contacted repeatedly by people who say her dad was buried onsite.

Returned serviceman Ian Nichols

She’s long been furious a full search of the land surrounding the Red Rooster was called off back in 1989 – on advice from someone outside Tasmania Police who told authorities “the matter was in hand”.

While she praises several members of the force, she says she’s also been left with scant help from police in the decades since her dad’s disappearance.

Mrs Behrens also says she’s been unable to lock in a lawyer in Tasmania willing to take on the various veteran organisations involved with the Red Rooster and the RSL.

It’s been 30 years of “sheer hell” not knowing where her dad is, and tragically this week, after a phone call from police, that grief appears light-years from being assuaged.

“I had a call this morning from the police, so they’ve pulled all the resources from the case because they said they’ve done all they can at the moment,” Mrs Behrens told the Mercury.

“They had a look around and they didn’t find him. I feel like the rug’s been pulled out from under my feet and I feel gutted.”

Christine Behrens’ father Ian Nichols went missing in 1989. Picture: Chris Kidd

Mrs Behrens said she was reassured by police that even if they didn’t find her dad’s killer, she’d finally have answers to what happened to him by the end of 2022.

“I’m thankful that they did allocate resources to it and reinvestigated things and finally brought the equipment down to scan the concrete slab,” she said.

“I’m glad that they did that and they did a dig. They should have done that years and years ago but at least they’ve done that now, and we know that he’s not there.

“But we still don’t know what happened to Dad.”

Allan, Mrs Behrens’ husband, said police had been “adamant” they’d have answers, before “all of a sudden” pulling resources from the case.

“Why would you say that to the family of a missing person – that you’ll know what happened by the end of the year?” he said.

“Jesus, it’s like being a used tissue – they blew their noses on us and threw us away.”

Allan Behrens, the husband of Christine Behrens. Christine's dad Ian Nichols went missing in 1989 at the Red Rooster. Picture: Supplied.

He said the family had put their lives on hold while police returned to the Red Rooster, but were now only left with heartache.

“The AFP came over with ground-penetrating radar and found an anomaly. That’s what they told us and we got excited,” Mr Behrens said.

“It was like we’d been told we’d just won Tattslotto … then realised it was two or three million people who’d won a dollar each.

“I see my wife suffer and go through this crap. Enough’s enough. This is ridiculous.”

Mr Behrens said at “the very minimum”, Tasmania Police should offer a reward for information leading to a murder conviction, like the half-million-dollars offered in other Tasmanian missing persons cases.

“It would be a good investment because they’ve done s…-all,” he said.

Tasmania Police confirmed that based on new information, it revisited the Lake Sorell site in November 2022, with an “examination of that site”.

“That examination did not yield any further information to advance the investigation at this time,” a spokesperson said.

“The family of Mr Nichols have been provided with updates regarding the most recent police inquiries.”

The police said the investigation of Mr Nichols, and all other missing persons cases, remained open.

“As with all cases of missing persons, new information is assessed, and credible information followed up.”

An AFP spokesperson said its specialists were deployed to several locations in Tasmania to “aid in the location of evidentiary material”.

Tasmania Police encouraged anyone with information regarding Mr Nichols’ death to contact Glenorchy CIB on 131 444 or through Crime Stoppers online at crimestopperstas.com.au

Mr Nichols’ case was investigated in episode 3 of The Lost Ones, The Red Rooster. To listen, go to Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or visit www.lostonespodcast.com.au

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