For those gathered, the vigil offered a moment to reflect on Tho's story, his heartbroken loved ones overseas, and the ongoing search for answers. A nine-hour drive from Sydney and two hours from Brisbane, the town is accessible while still feeling oddly remote. So, after a two-week coronial inquiry, what has been learntand what remains unknown? But at 6.17am the phone started receiving data again, meaning it did not go into the water (the manufacturer confirmed it would not receive data if submerged). The court heard Theo was an excellent navigator on Google Maps. 'I've sort of got a belief now that if there's not GPS data, (in my eyes) that area hasn't been searched,' he said. Cheeky Monkeys has a bad reputation around town. We know that he watched part of a Youtube video. True Crime Society - Missing | Madeline Kingsbury Disappearance of Tho Hayez - Wikipedia In a Facebook post from Belgium, Tho's father, Laurent Hayez, expressed his admiration for the community that had rallied around his family from afar. It is almost certain that it was him sending the messages, given that they were written in French and were typical of his style. The officer in charge of the investigation, Detective Senior Constable Philip Parker, said "it could be possible" Theo was abducted, but police hadn't "found any information to that regard". NSW Coroner Teresa O'Sullivan handed down her findings on Friday after an extensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of the 18-year-old traveller. During the inquest in 2021, it was reported there were no signs of pre-existing concerns that the teenager was at risk of death by suicide, and had no known troubles legally, personally and financially. However, the information Whatsapp could provide was limited due to encryption. Byron Bay is very small, with the entire town being accessible by foot if you are fit. And I cant for the life of me think other than hes speaking to someone.. His room was apparently left unbothered. It would actually be weirder if he went that path by himself. OSullivan told the court the theories that Hayez had taken his own life or staged his disappearance could now be excluded, but she could not either substantiate or exclude the other two main competing theories that he either died alone trying to climb the Cape Byron headland, or was killed by another person, or persons, who disposed of his body. The comments below have been moderated in advance. An inquest is due to take place from November 29, hopefully bringing Tho Hayez loved ones a step closer to answers. Theo Hayez, 18, is likely to have died soon after leaving a nightclub in Byron Bay, New South Wales on 31 May 2019, a coroner ruled. Hayez arrived in Australia in late 2018 on a working holiday visa. Despite an extensive search that garnered national attention, his body was never found. Lisa Hayez told the inquest she had walked the secluded path Theo followed and was convinced he would never have embarked on the trek through dense bushland alone. 'Nazi gold' turns out to be a WW2 bullet and a pair of muddy boots: Hunt for lost loot hidden in Dutch 'I'm no deadbeat dad!' Tho Hayez packed a lot into his post-school trip to Australia. He didnt catch his flight back to Belgium. Using GPS data from the 18-year-olds phone, Gary Jubelin revealed there was a critical seven minutes in which Mr Hayez appeared to have stopped at the local cricket nets. The Coroner completely rules out suicide and said that Theo had been looking forward to reuniting with his family back in Belgium when he vanished, Despite the fact the 18-year-old was thrown out of Cheeky Monkeys bar, the coroner did not find he was drunk or affected by drugs and said he was careful and wouldn't have dared the dangerous cliffs at Byron. The Morning Edition newsletter is our guide to the days most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. [9], The case soon became well known in Australia and Europe and interest continues more than two years later. The coroner said those who suspected foul play theorised that Theo had 'met one or more persons at the cricket nets and walked through Arakawal national Park to Tallow Beach. On May 29, 2019, Tho checked into the Wake Up! If you walked the path, you would understand- the offshoot simply isnt something you would just stumble upon. Theo was a responsible and cautious young man. While many young travellers get caught up in drugs and partying, Theo was responsible. See our Missing Persons Guide > Facebook Twitter Instagram 2020 MEDIA Cold case: Missing person Russell Martin is the feature of a new billboard placed at Coffee Palace Park Stawell The Wimmera Mail-Times, 15th November 2020 A LARGE billboard arrived. The 18-year-old then looked up directions to his hostel on Google Maps. Halfway up the east coast in the Australian state of New South Wales, Byron beckons travellers from all parts of the world. There are two known cases in 1989 and 2014 of people who disappeared, their bodies never recovered, in the sea at Cosy Corner. When security staff from the venue gave evidence about their decision, Theo's father Laurent stormed out of the court. He didnt board the Greyhound bus. He couldn't recall that text but, with the benefit of hindsight, would ask for that assistance, he said. He had reportedly been apprehensive about the trip initially, wondering whether it was worth delaying his engineering studies for. [2], Hayez's final phone signal was determined to be in the proximity of Cape Byron on 1 June 2019. By the time it was realised where his path actually brought him, the trail was very cold. The Belgian teenager disappeared in 2019 from NSW tourist hotspot Byron Bay, with an inquest on Wednesday hearing there had been a 'potential breakthrough' in the case. His lighthearted messages sent in the next hour suggested he felt safe, Edwards said. The case of missing Belgian backpacker Theo Hayez and why it made a The following day, April 2, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension issued an "endangered missing person" alert for Madeline and released her description as 5 feet, 4 inches tall, weighs 135 pounds and has brown hair and hazel eyes. We also know that he walked in the opposite direction from the hostel: from Kingsley to Tennyson Street, to the Youth Activity Centre. The coroner saidtwo main theories existed about the disappearance of Theo, who she found had died on or about June 1, 2019 in or around Byron Bay, but she couldn't rule that either was definitely the case. What Really Happened was a hidden gem for me deep dives into pop culture mysteries or just interesting events you might want to know more about. The family previously speculated that Tho encountered other people after leaving Cheeky Monkeys that night, and that he met with foul play. Then her family intervened, A year ago, this Australian couple fled Ukraine with their three cats. I am quite involved in the local community and there arent any credible rumours that I can pass on: its just as much a mystery to locals as it is to outsiders. SPECIAL INVESTIGATION: What really happened to missing backpacker Theo I'm not critical of staff at Cheeky Monkeys but staff have accepted in evidence there were no clear signs of actual intoxication.'. At the time of his disappearance, he was wearing a black hooded jumper, beige pants and black shoes. (60 Minutes) Having examined the latest evidence in Hayez's disappearance, former homicide detective Gary Jubelin agrees. hostel but got lost and ended up at Cosy Corner," Tho's godfather, Jean-Philippe Pector, told ABC in 2019. The pair discovered he had not taken his scheduled bus to Sydney on June 3. Coroner O'Sullivan hopes a police reward would encourage anyone with information to come forward, and also recommended that police improve their technological skills using Google and Facebook to trace missing persons. When they searched the house they didn't find Hayez's belongings, but they did find items belonging to another person who went missing from Byron Bay, Thea. "Once again, the support and compassion remain so strong," he wrote, sharing the above footage of the mandala. The working theory of police is that Theo may have been trying to get to the Cape Byron Lighthouse, a popular tourist attraction. Hayezs phone has never been found. A service was held on Monday for Steven Tougher, 29, who was allegedly stabbed to death inside his ambulance last month. Few other details about evidence have been made public. An inquest into missing backpacker Theo Hayez's disappearance has concluded The 18-year-old has officially been declared dead but actual cause unknown Coroner says the teen either fell off. A former homicide detective believes the 2019 disappearance of Belgian backpacker Theo Hayez in Byron Bay should be treated as "suspicious," in lieu of the . @nbnnews @9NewsSyd pic.twitter.com . Read more. The monster ego's ball: Tonight the great and the woke will honor Karl Lagerfeld at the Met show-off-athon, Met Gala prep! Nor had he made contact with family or friends, which was extremely out of character. An inquest is examining the disappearance of 18-year-old Belgian backpacker Theo Hayez. Earlier on Wednesday,it was revealed the police officer who led the initial search for Mr Hayezwas inexperienced, missed vital training and would have conducted the operation 'very differently' with the benefit of hindsight. Theo Hayez disappearance: Former detective's verdict on Belgian Theo Hayez was last seen leaving the Cheeky Monkeys nightclub about11pmon May 31, 2019. Theos grieving mother, Vinciane, broke down in tears as she made a heartbreaking admission about her missing son. Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group, Britain's rock solid support for the Royal Family: With Charles' Coronation just four days way, a major poll reveals there is little appetite for republicanism but reform IS needed, High-ranking Met Police officer on 100,000-a-year who was found to be a regular user of 'high-class' prostitutes was allowed to keep his job after he was let off with a minor rebuke, Police hunt for Brixton killer after woman in her 30s is stabbed to death in broad daylight near O2 Academy, ROYAL CHANNEL LIVE: The monarch's unexpected defender from Down Under, Beatrice and Eugenie in the party mood and fears of heavy rain on May 6 - latest updates. But the inquest heard from several backpackers who were with Theo on the night of his disappearance, and none thought he was drunk. Podcasting, and in particular true-crime related podcasts which deal primarily with serial murders, kidnappings, disappearances, and unsolved crimes, became popular as a media format in Australia starting in 2016. Omicron variant Australia: new Covid strain in Darwin as NSW investigates possible further cases, Queensland woman who ran down and killed cyclist in sheer rage jailed for 10 years, Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning, 2023 Guardian News & Media Limited or its affiliated companies. "We'll just continue to liaise with the family and we're here on the ground in Byron, so we can just continue to do whatever they want us to do.". All rights reserved. Scientists discover what happens seconds after you die - activity in the brain and heart RAMPS UP. The family is confident it is his, although DNA results have yet to be released. All times AEST (GMT +10). This was prior to a five-hour window when Hayez' mobile phone ceased communicating with the nearest tower. Pregnant Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice are joined by their Do not sell or share my personal information. 'The final part through bushland would have been very hard going,' the Coroner said. Police believe Theo sent light-hearted messages to his friends and family in French from that location, with the last message sent to his step-sister Emma at 12:55am. His cousin, Lisa Hayez, said it was common for them to enter directions into Google Maps and then use the map to navigate by zooming in and out without changing the directions. Want more local news? Missing Belgian backpacker Theo Hayez's family says evidence backs His phone connected to the Cape Byron cell tower (close to Cozy Corner) at 1:42PM the following day. By all accounts, he hadnt had that much to drink, and he wasnt aggressive or causing any issues. [10][11][12][13][2][14], Per Hayez's family's request, The Australian national crime correspondent David Murray joined the searches. While it was out of character, she was understanding that sometimes he wasnt able to get mobile coverage. Theo stayed in a single person room, and quickly made friends with some of the other backpackers there. The daughter of a former tax office deputy commissioner and young mum will spend at least five years behind bars. Counsel Assisting the Coroner, Kirsten Edwards, told the court that just minutes later, at 1.02am, something happened. Police were alerted six days later when he failed to return to his hostel and could not be found or contacted. Credit: Danielle Smith, Supplied. His subsequent decisions would be hard to believe if investigators didnt have Google data obtained by his family, Edwards said. And the Milne Track? In May 2019, the Belgian national seemingly disappeared after he was kicked out of the Cheeky Monkeys a popular Byron Bay bar and nightclub for appearing intoxicated. Theo Hayez, an 18-year-old Belgian national, had spent months in Australia and was just days away from flying home. Authorities have also said the investigation found no evidence to suggest foul play or homicide was involved in his disappearance. His paperwork from the first day of the search wasn't up to its usual standard, he had no picture of Theo to hand to volunteers - who were instead having to recall the image they were shown at the beginning of the day - and he deployed volunteers without specific instructions of what they should look for in their search area. Theo is unhappy when Im feeling sad. Using GPS data from the 18-year-old's phone, Gary Jubelin revealed there was a critical seven minutes in which Mr Hayez appeared to have stopped at the local cricket nets. In fact, it was the coldest night on record for May and June in Byron. The familys last hope now is that a $500,000 reward announced by NSW Police in February will yield answers in time. $500,000 reward announced by NSW Police in February. His father made a plea to the Australian people to help in the searches; "When I left Belgium I promised Tho's little brother, Lucas, I would bring his brother home, please help me keep my promise to him". "Today, two years after [Tho's disappearance], a heartfelt demonstration of love on the Byron beach.
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