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. 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". [2], Hayez's final phone signal was determined to be in the proximity of Cape Byron on 1 June 2019. But instead of heading northwest, he wandered east through suburban streets and along dark bushland tracks towards Cape Byron. "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.". Scan this QR code to download the app now, https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/new-phone-data-reveals-search-for-missing-belgian-backpacker-theo-hayez-was-in-the-wrong-place-as-hed-walked-away-from-his-hostel-not-towards-it-after-leaving-bar/ar-BBWsK9G. If he did indeed fall into the ocean, in was in a treacherous spot. Disappearance Hayez arrived in Australia in late 2018 on a working holiday visa. She said the teenager had either 'met with a terrible accident while alone he attempted to climb towards the (Byron Bay) lighthouse'. 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. The search began promptly after that, but unfortunately the trail was already growing cold. They always turn back up, though. 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. His father Laurent returns to . It would actually be weirder if he went that path by himself. . Theo left the bar at 11PM. Online sleuths are combing through Instagram and Facebook data, hoping to find any clues about beach gatherings that night. An investigator looking into the disappearance of Belgian backpacker Theo Hayez in Byron Bay has claimed 'new leads' have emerged since a reward was offered. Detective Senior Constable Parker told the inquestthe bush track Theo used may have appeared on Google Maps as a more suitable route than it actually was. Sign up to ABC North Coast's weekly email newsletter. Byron isnt big, and if you follow the bright lights and signs, Wake Up is actually remarkably easy to get to. Between midnight and 1am at Cosy Corner, he watched a comedy clip on YouTube and messaged family and friends in a manner inconsistent with him feeling afraid, OSullivan said. Tho was reported missing on June 6, sparking a large-scale search involving police, State Emergency Service volunteers, lifesavers, the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service, dogs, drones and members of the public. 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 . They caught the shuttle bus back to the backpackers and shared the wine with some other backpackers in the common area outside. Some lay flowers, some stood in a circle around a giant mandala carved into . 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 He didnt catch his flight back to Belgium. 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! 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. She said she felt like there was still a 'tiny window' open which may reveal some details into what happened to Theo that night. 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. Belgian backpacker Theo Hayez, 18, was last seen in Byron Bay on May 31, 2019 In a coronial inquest, it was revealed 'someone' was chatting with Mr Hayez In potential case breakthrough,. If we knew what that was, we think we probably would know what happened to Theo. Thats when his phone stopped receiving data. Sheri Todd, who helped to coordinate the searches, said the inquest had achieved all that could be expected. 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. He ended up with stewardship of the search over its first two days despite having no training in a mapping tool that allowed GPS data to be uploaded and searched areas accurately marked. On May 29, 2019, Tho checked into the Wake Up! According to police, staff at the venue had asked him to leave because "he Lots of love to you beautiful souls.". The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline. However, the evidence he was actually intoxicated was ambiguous, counsel assisting the inquest Kirsten Edwards said on Monday. The comments below have been moderated in advance. 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. At the Cheeky Monkeys bar, the group discussed European politics as they drank a few beers. While it was out of character, she was understanding that sometimes he wasnt able to get mobile coverage. Read more. 'Theo may have been lost and confused, or potentially affected by alcohol or drugs. This theory was addressed early on in the inquest. EXCLUSIVE: High-ranking Met Police officer on 100,000-a-year who was found to be a regular user of Police hunt for Brixton killer after woman in her 30s is stabbed to death in broad daylight near O2 Academy. He searched searched for his hostel .. it would have been readily apparent to him he was going further in the wrong direction. Theo is said to have traveled to Australia from Belgium. The case of missing Belgian backpacker Theo Hayez and why it made a coroner cry, Catch up with The Loop, your quick wrap of this morning's news. He was last sighted leaving Cheeky Monkeys bar in Byron Bay at approximately 11:00 pm on 31 May 2019. Hayezs phone has never been found. -. Cheeky Monkeys bar is the middle of the map. Google data suggests after being ejected from a bar in 2019, Hayez took a dark track through bushland towards the ocean at times walking quickly or running. Paradoxically, it is both diverse and inclusive whilst also being unfriendly and intolerant to those who do not fit a certain mold. A nine-hour drive from Sydney and two hours from Brisbane, the town is accessible while still feeling oddly remote. It didnt connect after that. I also feel Theo is giving me strength.. CCTV footage played at the inquest shows Hayez occasionally stumbling. No other phones were detected, but the court was told the technique did not work for Apple phones. [3] Messaging platform Whatsapp cooperated with NSW Police in the endeavour to recover chat logs from the night. The intricate, abstract motif is a symbol used in various spiritual traditions as an instrument of meditation. It is hard to see any pathway up from Cosy Corner at night at all, it is very dark and dangerous. 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. Counsel Assisting the Coroner told the court "the use of Grindr has also been suggested but we know Theo did not have that app or any like app on his phone.". Please try again later. Disappearance of Tho Hayez Tho Hayez was an 18-year old Belgian man who disappeared in the Cape Byron area. 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. Everyone in Byron has kept close tabs on this story. Nationwide News Pty Ltd 2023. However she said there had been no reported attacks in the area, 'and 'no-one saw anyone at the cricket nets' and a 'random murder of a backpacker in Byron Bay' would be extraordinary. While many young travellers get caught up in drugs and partying, Theo was responsible. 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. They ran searches on five key locations, including the cricket nets near the Byron Bay Youth Centre, where digital data shows he spent seven minutes. A subreddit dedicated to the unresolved mysteries of the world. In a bombshell revelation,Ms Edwards said the investigating team had also found a mystery person 'who was communicating with Theo on the 31st of May' - but it is not yet known when the two exchanged messages. The message to his stepsister was sent a bit before 1AM with him being active on Whatsapp at 1AM, then going offline. A quick walk from the shuttle parking lot brought them to Cheeky Monkeys a well known backpackers bar. region two years ago. "Today, two years after [Tho's disappearance], a heartfelt demonstration of love on the Byron beach. A man has been arrested after a soccer referee was allegedly attacked at the end of a match, resulting in a broken jaw. Replies analysing and speculating over the mystery and possible explanations are encouraged. Byron Bay, on NSW's far north coast, is the last known stop on his adventure. Tho's parents also flew to Australia to join the search, and they remained for several weeks. If he had access to location data sourced from Theo's phone on those first two days, the search would have looked very different, Sen Const Papworth said. I dont believe anyone slipped him anything at the bar or that Cheeky Monkeys has anything to do with his disappearance. His family, who have travelled to Byron Bay from Europe for the two-week inquest in the NSW coroners court, dont accept their cautious boy would do something so dangerous in the dark. Whether Hayez encountered anybody else that night is one of the major mysteries the inquest will explore. The last activity on the phone suggests Hayez wasnt in trouble in that moment. 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. [6], As the case slowed down, the official police theory became that Hayez fell from the cliffs near the lighthouse as a misadventure. He was also not believed to be a reckless or aggressive or a heavy drinker and regularly stayed in contact with his family. @nbnnews @9NewsSyd pic.twitter.com . MAP: https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/new-phone-data-reveals-search-for-missing-belgian-backpacker-theo-hayez-was-in-the-wrong-place-as-hed-walked-away-from-his-hostel-not-towards-it-after-leaving-bar/ar-BBWsK9G, https://www.google.com.au/amp/s/www.mamamia.com.au/theo-hayez-news/amp/. Read more. Then something happened at 1.02am, Edwards said. With the benefit of hindsight he would also have tried to find out more about Theo's interests and behaviours, to help tailor the search. According to his phone data, Mr Hayezs last reported location was near the Tallow Beach Cosy Corner near the Cape Byron cliffs. [9], The case soon became well known in Australia and Europe and interest continues more than two years later. 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'. 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. Cheeky Monkeys reported being about quarter capacity. Laurent Hayez, the father of missing Belgian backpacker Theo Hayez, speaks to waiting media in 2021, Senior Constable Louis Papworth admitted he had only conducted two minor searches before the Belgian teen went missing in late May of 2019 (pictured, teams search the north flank of Byron Bay lighthouse for Theo Hayez). He was responsible and cautious and it would be out of character to attempt something so reckless. Key questions still remain", "Remains found in Australia are not those of Belgian backpacker Tho", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Disappearance_of_Tho_Hayez&oldid=1140830742, This page was last edited on 22 February 2023, at 00:23. Then her family intervened, A year ago, this Australian couple fled Ukraine with their three cats. Tho Hayez was an 18-year old Belgian man who disappeared in the Cape Byron area. Hayez arrived in Australia in late 2018 on a working holiday visa. The officer in charge of investigating Theo's disappearance, Detective Senior Constable Philip Parker had 'found walk the scary and intimidating when he attempted it alone at night' and that it was 'unmarked, extremely dark an difficult to find, even in daytime. Police were alerted six days later when he failed to return to his hostel and could not be found or contacted. Theo was by all accounts happy and optimistic about life, and excited to start his next chapter studying engineering back in Belgium. The daughter of a former tax office deputy commissioner and young mum will spend at least five years behind bars. He seemingly made a straight shot through, too, which would be virtually impossible without knowing the area. was approaching intoxication". The pioneering heart operation that only takes an hour and doesn't leave a scar is performed on first Briton. Joe cast aside his own grandkid to protect his 'It's better than the noise and the dirt of London!' Lisa later provided good insight into what Theos version of backpacking looked like. Majority of British public think Charles should not apologise for slavery, new poll shows, Even most republicans see no benefit in abolishing the monarchy, new polls reveals, LORD ASHCROFT: The monarchy has to change, but the King has time and goodwill on his side. The monster ego's ball: Tonight the great and the woke will honor Karl Lagerfeld at the Met show-off-athon, Met Gala prep! Later on in the evening, Theo and some other backpackers caught another shuttle bus into town. Theos mother began to worry when she didnt hear from him for a couple of days. 'I cannot conclude that Theo died by misadventure. They are in town, but there is nothing out there. '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!' 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. Few other details about evidence have been made public. But just after 1am his phone stopped receiving data. 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. Even on busy summer nights, they are far removed from the hustle and bustle of Byron proper, despite being only minutes away. I'm not critical of staff at Cheeky Monkeys but staff have accepted in evidence there were no clear signs of actual intoxication.'. I do not believe for a second he willingly disappeared. 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. We know that he watched part of a Youtube video. Detective Senior Constable Parker told the inquest he believed Theo was dead because his bank and social media accounts had not been used since he went missing. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. They were active in sharing flyers and information about the missing backpacker. Nor had he made contact with family or friends, which was extremely out of character. This case is so frustrating, someone definitely knows what happened to this kid. hostel where Hayez was staying also called the police on that same day, three days after Hayez failed to check out. Many Australians would describe the town as being pretentious. 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. Investigations in conjunction with Hayez's family and Google suggest a last possible whereabouts in the vicinity of Cosy Corner, Tallow Beach. The Hayez family have repeatedly said they do not believe Theo was alone after he left Cheeky Monkeys. There was nothing out of the ordinary in town that night, besides it being so cold! "I think that we are all hoping that there will be an open finding so investigations can continue," Dr Todd said. Google Timeline tracking ended there, near Cosy Corner at the northern end of Tallow Beach, shortly after midnight, and the last signal from his phone was recorded in the same area at 1.42 pm the following day. Only a twenty minute walk from the main street, Wake Up also lets backpackers use their bikes and get free rides on their regular shuttle buses. The handset remained in roughly the same area, until its battery presumably ran out, but it has never been found. Were sorry, this feature is currently unavailable. I dont believe he would have gone swimming - it was incredibly cold that night. Mr Jubelin claimed the evidence was suggestive of the fact that he was in company with someone.. It was concerning,' Sen Const Papworth said. 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. The final part of Hayez journey through the bush, where his hat was found, did not follow any natural path and would have been very hard going. This story reaching the attention of former Byron travellers might be the key to solving this mystery. 1.06K subscribers #theohayez #byronbay #tarot In May 2019 Theo Hayez, a young Belgian tourist, went missing at Byron Bay in Australia after having been escorted out of a bar for being too. According to the family, data from his phone indicates he went towards . His disappearance remains a mystery and, with celebrity town Byron Bay in the mix, one that has proven irresistible to the media. With more backpackers than actual residents residing in Byron for much of the year, Byron Bays culture is very unique. Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group, 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 cliffs into ocean or met with foul play, Theo was last seen on May 31, 2019, at the Cheeky Monkeys bar in Byron Bay. 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 latest evidence. (60 Minutes) Having examined the latest evidence in Hayez's disappearance, former homicide detective Gary Jubelin agrees. 'If you want to go on living, there is a time when you need to stop. 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. The NSW government has announced a $500,000 reward for information about the disappearance of Belgian backpacker Theo Hayez. 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. She also dismissed reports that Theo's phone engaged in some sort of "digital handshake" during his trek to Tallow Beach. Police officially closed their investigation in September 2019, and the case was referred to the NSW Coroner. [8] A coroners inquest was set for November 2021. All times AEST (GMT +10). 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. At 6.17am, it re-entered reception range and continued to receive data until lunchtime that day suggesting it did not fall into the water. Sen Const Papworth and the search teams were instead forced to rely on paper maps and pens. 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. The family submit it would be completely inconsistent with Theos character to attempt something so reckless, particularly alone.. "We believe thatscenario is not likely, especially the fact that Theo would have been alone, without meeting anyone.". Theo,18, disappeared after being kicked out of the Cheeky Monkeys bar in Byron Bay, northern NSW, and was last seen by his friends at about 11pm on May 31, 2019. "Because obviously we don't have the answers that we need at the moment. The 18-year-old was last seen when he was ejected from the Cheeky Monkeys bar in Byron Bay about 11pm on May 31, 2019. Australian police conducted searches along with helicopters, drones, cadaver dogs, trackers, divers, and rock climbers. Next, he took a dark track through bushland towards the ocean, at points appearing to walk quickly or run. Halfway up the east coast in the Australian state of New South Wales, Byron beckons travellers from all parts of the world. Sen Const Papworth was also asked about another officer's evidence that she had texted him to suggest he ask for assistance from Queensland's police helicopter, which has thermal imaging capabilities that could help find a body. Hostel at Belongil Beach, just outside the bustle of the popular holiday town's centre. Is your loved one missing? 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.