Missing persons: Young Victorians to disappear without a trace
From a university student, to a young man on a camping trip, here are the chilling stories behind the disappearances of young men and women across Victoria.
These are the faces loved ones would love to see one last time. But sadly this is a list of young Victorians who have disappered and never been found.
LINDA STILWELL, 7
Missing since: August 10, 1968
An inquest found that serial killer Derek Percy abducted and killed primary school girl Linda Stilwell but a body has never been found.
Linda’s sister Karen blames herself for her sibling’s disappearance on August 10, 1968, after she went to play near Luna Park.
Ms Stilwell told the Herald Sun Linda didn’t arrive home after going out to play so her mother sent Karen, then aged 11, out to look for her.
Presuming Linda was just playing with friends and had forgotten how late it was getting; something she had done in the past, Karen didn’t actually search for her sister and just went for a walk before coming home to say she couldn’t find her.
It wasn’t until 36 years later that the Stilwell family got confirmation that evil child abducting murder Derek Ernest Percy had snatched Linda and killed her.
TERRENCE FLOYD, 12
Missing since: June 28, 1975
Terry disappeared while on his way home to Maryborough after playing a football game at nearby Avoca.
The schoolboy was last seen on the Pyrenees Highway between Avoca and Maryborough about 4.45pm.
Prime suspect Raymond Kenneth Jones, who drove a fawn Holden panel van at the time Terry disappeared, admitted being on the Pyrenees Highway, travelling from Avoca to Maryborough, at the time Terry was standing by the side of the road trying to get a lift home.
Three witnesses have told police they saw a vehicle similar to Jones’s panel van near a boy matching Terry’s description.
Multiple people have been interviewed by police but no person has been charged in relation to the disappearance.
SIRIYAKORN “BUNG” SIRIBOON, 13
Missing since: June 2, 2011
Siriyakorn “Bung” Siriboon left her family home in Boronia to walk to Boronia Heights College but never arrived and hasn’t been seen since.
Police have investigated over 1000 of information but have been unable to find out what happened to Bung.
They have previously said they hold grave fears for her.
There is a $1 million reward for information leading to the apprehension and subsequent conviction of the person or persons responsible for Bung’s disappearance.
The Department of Public Prosecutions will also consider granting indemnification from prosecution to any person who provides information as to the identity of the principal offender or offenders.
XUEYING (CARINA) GU, 13
Missing since: March 6, 2020
Carina Gu and her mother Lina left their family home at Aberfeldie about 10pm on March 6 last year and never returned.
The pair left in a white Audi sedan registration ATO506 after Ms Gu notified the reporting person “I’m going outside. I am very busy.”
They have not contacted family or friends and their disappearance was described as out of character.
Carina, who is of Asian ethnicity, was described to have a slim build with brown hair and eyes.
PETER DI GIORGIO, 14
Missing since: July 4, 1972
Peter Di Giogio left his Avondale Heights home on a bicycle and caught a train to Upfield station before he disappeared.
Police say Peter had intentions of travelling to Central Australia to work but not been seen
since.
ANNASTAES (ANNA) BANITSKAS, 15
Missing since: August 28, 1974
Anna Banitskas was last seen when she left her Lalor home for work on August 28, 1974. The teen never showed up to her shift at Rolex Paper Products in Thomastown, with police later discovering she had taken family photographs from an album.
“It’s the not knowing that’s the worst,” Anna’s sister Loretta Pantou said in 2014.
“There are so many options for what could have happened. Did she meet with foul play? Did she choose to leave? Questions like that keep you up at night. Our family has no closure.”
Anna was described as having an olive complexion with black hair and brown eyes.
DONALD (DONNY) GOVAN, 16
Missing since: September 1, 2012
Donny Govan was camping with sister Rachael O’Keane and friends along the Murray River about 1km north of Braund Rd Echuca on September 1, 2012.
Ms O’Keane said as one or two drinks turned into three or four, an argument broke out and in a heated exchange Donny disappeared into dense bush.
Donny left the campsite about 8.30pm and has not been seen since.
According to his family the trip was Donald’s first holiday to Echuca as he normally resided with his father in Ballarat.
Donny, who had spacer earrings, was described as having light brown hair and blue/green eyes and was wearing a black T-shirt with a ‘Flight Path’ logo, white board shorts and black runners.
SUZANNE LAWRANCE, 16
Missing since: February 7, 1987
Suzanne Lawrence disappeared without a trace after leaving a birthday party in Healesville to go home.
Suzanne was described as 147cm with a thin build, fair complexion and brown hair.
JAOQUIN OCHOA, 18
Missing since April 18, 2020
CCTV footage captured vanished Pascoe Vale teen Joaquin Ochoa’s last known movements on April 18 last year.
Video shows Mr Ochoa, 18, walking toward Greenvale Reserve, Greenvale about 9.30pm after catching an Uber to the intersection of Belgrade St and Venezia Promenade.
Mr Ochoa had picked up an eBay parcel at the Pascoe Vale newsagency earlier in the day and had also spoken to a friend on the phone at 7pm, with the friend noticing no unusual behaviour.
Mr Ochoa said goodnight to his parents and went to bed about 8.30pm before he ordered the Uber at 9.10pm.
In CCTV footage Joaquin is depicted wearing a white windcheater, blue jeans, white Adidas runners with black stripes and is seen carrying a bag and in possession of his mobile phone.
MAMAWA SACKOR, 18
Missing since: October 15, 2015
Mamawa Sackor was last seen leaving her Rosanna home on 15 October 2015.
She left Australia on the same day and is believed to have travelled to Guinea to visit her father.
Mamawa was meant to return to Australia one month later but has not been seen or heard from since.
She is described as having a dark complexion with a thin build and blue eyes.
JAKE LYONS, 20
Missing since: August 25, 2014
A silver Holden Astra was the only clue suspected to be left behind by Dandenong North man Jake Lyons when he vanished on August 25, 2014.
Mr Lyons was last seen at his home but the car, which police believed he was driving, was found dumped at Springvale’s Warner Reserve six days later.
Police hold grave concerns for Mr Lyons, who had a fair complexion with brown eyes and hair.
“It’s occasions like those when it hurts the most; not knowing where Jake is, who he’s with, if he’s OK,” cousin Kim Brassington told the Leader in 2015.
“It’s a numb feeling. He disappeared without a trace, no explanations, no ceremony — just gone.
GREGORY DELANEY, 21
Missing since: July 12, 1989
Gregory Delaney was living at his family’s Geelong property when he disappeared on July 12, 1989.
Police say Mr Delaney left the house in an “agitated state” taking a small amount of cash, a bank card and his driver’s licence but never returned.
Mr Delaney, who had brown hair and blue eyes, has not contacted family or friends since.
TEJ CHITNIS, 22
Missing since: April 27, 2016
Melbourne University student Tej Chitnis disappeared without a trace on April 27, 2016.
His family raised the alarm after he failed to return to his Bonview Crescent home in Burwood East for his dad’s birthday dinner.
His car, a VW Golf Hatchback, registration TTF 517, was last seen travelling east on Maroondah Highway in Healesville at 11.34am that morning.
In 2019 Mr Chitnis’ disappearance was probed by an elite team of cyber experts in a fresh push for clues.
A total of 354 ethical hackers and investigators mined the internet for fresh leads on the case, in a nationwide first and push to finally deliver his family with answers.
SALLY CHEONG, 23
Missing since: April 2, 2008
Sally Cheong vanished from her Oakleigh South home on April 2, 2008.
Despite taking her wallet, phone, car keys, iPod and a security blanket she sometimes carried, she hasn’t accessed her bank account or her phone since her disappearance.
Ms Cheong’s sister Helen told the Herald Sun she and the rest of her family had no idea whether Ms Cheong had voluntarily run away or had met with foul play.
“It is awful for us all not knowing what happened to Sally,” she said.
Originally published as Missing persons: Young Victorians to disappear without a trace
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