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. All rights reserved. Investigations in conjunction with Hayez's family and Google suggest a last possible whereabouts in the vicinity of Cosy Corner, Tallow Beach. Police officially closed their investigation in September 2019, and the case was referred to the NSW Coroner. The 18-year-old vanished after leaving the Cheeky Monkeys nightclub about 11pm on May 31, 2019, and CCTV captured him walking in the opposite direction to his hostel located west of the Byron Bay CBD. Theo is unhappy when Im feeling sad. However, the evidence he was actually intoxicated was ambiguous, counsel assisting the inquest Kirsten Edwards said on Monday. Pregnant Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice are joined by their Do not sell or share my personal information. He was polite, but wobbly on his feet, they said. But instead of heading northwest, he wandered east through suburban streets and along dark bushland tracks towards Cape Byron. Next, he took a dark track through bushland towards the ocean, at points appearing to walk quickly or run. Hayezs Australia-based godfather, Jean-Philippe Pector, was moved to tears as he spoke outside court about the love the family had received from the Byron Bay community, which makes it all bearable. 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. A key question we are seeking to address is whether he was with someone on the night of May 31, 2019 which we strongly believe to be the case considering the circumstances, his family said in a statement. It is excellent and covers far more ground than I have. The familys last hope now is that a $500,000 reward announced by NSW Police in February will yield answers in time. It is hard to see any pathway up from Cosy Corner at night at all, it is very dark and dangerous. Key points: Familys worst fears confirmed in Theo Hayez mystery. Later on in the evening, Theo and some other backpackers caught another shuttle bus into town. By Candace Sutton for Daily Mail Australia, Published: 01:20 BST, 21 October 2022 | Updated: 02:08 BST, 21 October 2022. [4][5], The Hayez family continued to push the authorities to maintain a focus on the case and to follow up leads. His lighthearted messages sent in the next hour suggested he felt safe, Edwards said. hostel but got lost and ended up at Cosy Corner," Tho's godfather, Jean-Philippe Pector, told ABC in 2019. Sen Const Papworth and the search teams were instead forced to rely on paper maps and pens for the first two days of the search for missing backpacker Theo Hayez (pictured). Although, it's believed the demands were not genuine. Counsel Assisting the Coroner, Kirsten Edwards, told the court that just minutes later, at 1.02am, something happened. Online sleuths are combing through Instagram and Facebook data, hoping to find any clues about beach gatherings that night. She said the theory also presumes Hayez, a tourist unfamiliar with the area, had walked alone from the town along an unlit track and through dense bushland to get to the beach in the first place. After Mr Hayez left the Bryon Bay bar at 11pm on May 31, data from his mobile reveals that he stopped to look up directions to his Hostel, Wake . '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. By Andrew Prentice For Daily Mail Australia and Tiffanie Turnbull For Australian Associated Press, Published: 10:25, 23 February 2022 | Updated: 15:50, 23 February 2022. This page is not available in other languages. In fact, it was the coldest night on record for May and June in Byron. The track is difficult enough to find in the daytime, she said, and at night is extremely dark. (60 Minutes) Having examined the latest evidence in Hayez's disappearance, former homicide detective Gary Jubelin agrees. "Before leaving I had asked him for a jumper with his smell in memory of him waiting for his return," Lucas Hayez said. Missing Belgian backpacker Theo Hayez's family says evidence backs Location data showed him walking in the opposite direction of his accommodation at the Wake Up! Is your loved one missing? There are two known cases in 1989 and 2014 of people who disappeared, their bodies never recovered, in the sea at Cosy Corner. Disappearance of Tho Hayez - Wikipedia [3] Messaging platform Whatsapp cooperated with NSW Police in the endeavour to recover chat logs from the night. There is debate about how intoxicated Theo was, with multiple witnesses claiming he wasnt drunk. Coroner O'Sullivan also said it was 'unusual' that Theo 'walked nearer soft sand in the dune' before climbing through 'rugged bushland for eight minutes'. (ABC North Coast: Emma Rennie)Police believe Theo may have fallen into the ocean and drowned while trying to climb a rocky cliff. 'Theo is unhappy when I'm feeling sad. Hunter Biden claims he's paid Lunden Roberts $750k - $20,000 a month - in child MEGHAN MCCAIN: The Biden Family is a national disgrace! Hostel in Belongil. If theyre backpackers, they are likely out of the country already. resigns from Google and says he regets Pictured: British grandfather and 'friend to everybody' who died while snorkelling during dream cruise Baby in India is born with a third ARM growing from its back in rare phenomenon. Scientists discover what happens seconds after you die - activity in the brain and heart RAMPS UP, Trendy hard floors could be to blame for your foot pain (and there is a simple way to stop it). The disappearance of the teenager, who was described on Friday by State Coroner Teresa OSullivan as a clever, gentle and thoughtful young man with a bright future, prompted a mass volunteer effort from Byron Bay locals as the desperate search for him made global headlines. The Wake Up! hostel, with him stopping at a cricket ground and fire trail before he entered the bushland near Tallow Beach and the Byron Bay Lighthouse. Theo's father Laurent Hayez (left) and godfather Jean-Philippe Pector. The last, puzzling traces left by Hayez came from his phone, which showed the teenager had initially looked up his hostel on Google Maps, but instead walked the other way. Theo Hayez's motherVinciane (above) said she has accepted she 'will never know' what happened to her son, The last movements of Theo Hayez have been tracked from mobile phone data, but the backpacker's fate is still unknown, Police believe Theo fell down the face of a cliff after getting lost and trying to climb it to get back to the street (pictured, SES searching for Theo in 2019). The comments below have been moderated in advance. Police have noted it would be strange for a foreigner to walk the frightening and spooky track alone at night giving rise to theories that Hayez was with someone else. 'Theo may have been lost and confused, or potentially affected by alcohol or drugs. The 18-year-old was last seen being ejected from the Cheeky Monkey's bar in Byron Bay at 11pm on May 31, 2019. OSullivan told Byron Bay Local Court on Friday the inquest had shown significant legislative gaps, roadblocks and inconsistencies which impede missing persons investigations, and called for a comprehensive examination of the issues by both state and federal law reform commissions. 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. The 18-year-old then looked up directions to his hostel on Google Maps. Theos grieving mother, Vinciane, broke down in tears as she made a heartbreaking admission about her missing son. No other phones were detected, but the court was told the technique did not work for Apple phones. Missing backpacker Theo Hayez's mother has spoken publicly for the first time Theo was last seen on May 31, 2019, at the Cheeky Monkeys bar in Byron Bay His body was never recovered with his. There was some blurry CCTV footage of a nearby petrol station that seemed to support this, and it just made sense. Were sorry, this feature is currently unavailable. Missing backpacker Theo Hayez: Chilling new evidence suggests 18-year She said the teenager had either 'met with a terrible accident while alone he attempted to climb towards the (Byron Bay) lighthouse'. He said if Theo tried to walk up the "deceptively easy" grassy side of the cliff from Cosy Corner, he may not have realised the other side was steep and unstable shale. Mr Hayezs family have also disputed claims he attempted to navigate Byron Bays bushland and cliff face alone. The coroner said phone records supported the accident theory: expert analysis had concluded the device moved up from the beach onto the headland before finally disconnecting hours later. King Charles' Coronation LIVE: The monarch's unexpected defender from Down Under, Beatrice and Eugenie in Dr Martin Scurr: Why have I always had a runny nose for 30 years - and what can I do to make it stop? But there remained a major difficulty with the accident theory, OSullivan said: reconciling it with evidence of Theos character, and the reality of what it meant for him to trek through the bush onto the beach before attempting to climb over the headland in the middle of the night. The data showed Theo had spent seven minutes near cricket nets at a local sporting field, before charting a route through the Arakwal National Park to Cosy Corner Beach. 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. US tech billionaire's son Matt Baszucki found the low-carb/high fat diet finally made the difference to his bipolar disorder - after being prescribed 29 drugs over five years. 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. Australian police conducted searches along with helicopters, drones, cadaver dogs, trackers, divers, and rock climbers. This story reaching the attention of former Byron travellers might be the key to solving this mystery. He was a. "The likely scenario presented to us by the police is that Tho, after leaving the bar, went along to try toget back to the Wake Up! Fans don't believe North West, nine, organized lavish pre-Met Gala gift for mom Kim Kardashian: 'What 9 year Melting the ice queen's heart! Since arriving in November 2018, the 18-year-old stayed with his godfather in Victoria's Otways, worked at the Australian Open with his cousin, travelled to Tasmania, road-tripped from Alice Springs to Darwin and Kakadu, and sailed and surfed his way Google data suggests he never stopped walking quickly, as he exited the bushland and made his way toward Cozy Corner he was now moving toward the top right of the map. 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. Authorities have also said the investigation found no evidence to suggest foul play or homicide was involved in his disappearance. In February, the NSW government announced a $500,000 reward for significant information regarding the backpackers disappearance. The message to his stepsister was sent a bit before 1AM with him being active on Whatsapp at 1AM, then going offline. Handing down her findings on Friday, State Coroner Teresa O'Sullivan did note, however, that Hayez's phone indicated he had spent seven minutes at a local area known as the cricket nets, and that he had 'veered sharply' off a path near a bush camp. Nor had he made contact with family or friends, which was extremely out of character. I also feel Theo is giving me strength.'. Background. How a chilling rumour missing backpacker Theo Hayez was buried in Byron Bay bushland led to an extraordinary discovery at a filthy squatter house in a nearby hippie town A private investigator. The pair discovered he had not taken his scheduled bus to Sydney on June 3. The other part of me thinks he got lost in the dense bush land and succumbed to the elements. Controversial NHS Tavistock transgender clinic is threatened with court action by watchdog after failing to 'If I didn't build it, somebody else would've': The Godfather of A.I. He searched searched for his hostel .. it would have been readily apparent to him he was going further in the wrong direction. 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. The worst fears of Theo Hayezs loved ones have been confirmed after an inquest found the 18-year-old Belgian backpacker died shortly after he disappeared on a night out in Byron Bay in 2019 but whether he died as a result of an innocent accident or foul play remains a mystery. Cheeky Monkeys has a bad reputation around town. I keep coming back to the reasons why he might spend seven minutes here, he told 60 Minutes on Sunday night. 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. He spoke with his mom every couple days. He couldn't recall that text but, with the benefit of hindsight, would ask for that assistance, he said. 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. 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. CCTV footage played at the inquest shows Hayez occasionally stumbling. This theory was addressed early on in the inquest. He disappeared a week before he was due to fly home to Belgium. An inquest is examining the disappearance of 18-year-old Belgian backpacker Theo Hayez. The 18-year-old was last seen leaving the Cheeky Monkey's bar on Johnson Street in the popular beach town on May 31, 2019. 'The final part through bushland would have been very hard going,' the Coroner said. Or he had met 'with one or more persons' between the cricket nets area at Byron and Cosy Corner beach 'and those persons caused his death and disposed of his body'. We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we live, learn, and work. He liked organisation and everything he did was according to plan. They were active in sharing flyers and information about the missing backpacker. kicked out of the Cheeky Monkeys a popular Byron Bay bar and nightclub , ntered the bushland near Tallow Beach and the Byron Bay Lighthouse, Twist in Theo mystery as new leads emerge, Breakthrough in missing Theo Hayez case, significant information regarding the backpackers disappearance, Ex-ATO boss daughter jailed for $105m fraud, Heartbreaking scenes as paramedic farewelled. Belgian authorities were able to use technology called geo-fencing to check for other phones in the same area at the same time. It's been two years since Tho Hayez vanished in Byron Bay. Despite this, while Mr Jubelin said he would be treating it (Theos disappearance) as suspicious circumstances, he also wasnt able to discount other theories, including misadventure. Theo's phone has never been found, but his family managed to gain access to his Google account, which provided a "digital data trail" of his movements on the night he disappeared. NSW police search the Cape Byron state conservation area in June 2019. 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. There will always be sadness until the very end of our life but it is healthy to stop searching. The intricate, abstract motif is a symbol used in various spiritual traditions as an instrument of meditation. Question: Who or what caused the disappearance of Theo Hayez? Theo Hayez inquest hears no evidence of foul play in Belgian - ABC Subscribe here: http://9Soci.al/chmP50wA97J Full Episodes: https://9now.app.link/uNP4qBkmN6 | Nightmare in Paradise (2022)Eighteen-year-old Tho Hayez from B. 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 court heard Theo was an excellent navigator on Google Maps. Late on Monday afternoon, dozens of people gathered on the shore at The Pass in Byron Bay in a vigil to Belgian man, Tho Hayez, who vanished from the region two years ago. There was nothing out of the ordinary in town that night, besides it being so cold! Two days later, at around 11pm, he was seen leaving the Cheeky Monkeys bar in downtown Johnson Street, wearing a black hoodie, beige pants, black shoes and a grey baseball cap. Joe cast aside his own grandkid to protect his 'It's better than the noise and the dirt of London!' Nationwide News Pty Ltd 2023. down the Queensland coast. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. Up to this point, there was nothing particularly notable about Theo Hayez or his two days in Byron. Then something happened at 1.02am, Edwards said. I think that we will never know (what happened to Theo) but I hope our situation, our story, is helpful to others, she told 60 Minutes. "We believe thatscenario is not likely, especially the fact that Theo would have been alone, without meeting anyone.". 'I believe I was just the on-call rescue operator that day,' Sen Const Papworth said. Police make major announcement about disappearance of Theo Hayez There have been many theories about what might have happened to Theo Hayez but with no sign of him since, all that speculation has gone nowhere. Mr Hayez was last spotted around 11pm on May 31, 2019 leaving the Cheeky Monkeys bar on Johnson Street. "Because obviously we don't have the answers that we need at the moment. I dont believe he would have gone swimming - it was incredibly cold that night. His plan was to spend a few days in the town, before taking a Greyhound bus on Monday June 3rd back to Sydney/Melbourne and then heading home to Belgium. Police believe Theo Hayez may have been trying to get to the Cape Byron Lighthouse on the night he disappeared The officer in charge of the lengthy investigation has given evidence on the eighth day of the two-week coronial inquest He said a phone similar to Theo's was discovered close to where he went missing, but it was not the 18-year-old's