Family of missing backpacker pin hopes on new CCTV from night he vanished
Nearly two weeks on from the night 18-year-old Belgian backpacker Theo Hayez vanished on his way back to his Byron Bay hostel new CCTV footage has emerged that sheds new light on his movements.
Police obtained the footage from a holiday home on Shirley Street —around a kilometre from the place where he was last seen outside the Cheeky Monkey bar on May 31.
Mr Hayez’s family believe the snippet of video (which hasn’t been released to the public yet) shows him following directions on his phone to get back to his hostel.
“Something happened between this place [the Shirley St holiday house] and the hostel and I don’t know what,” his cousin Lisa Hayez told Nine News.
The new evidence in the search for the young man has prompted police to confine the scale of their operation and concentrate more closely on the immediate vicinity of the hostel Mr Hayez was staying at, but never made it back to.
The new development comes as his father is due to arrive in Australia from Belgian to assist in the search for his son who has been missing since around 11pm on Friday, May 31.
Police were alerted on June 6 when he failed to return to Wake Up! Hostel in Byron Bay and could not be contacted or located.
His belongings, including his passport were untouched in his room, while his mobile phone and bank cards haven’t been used since his disappearance.
Police continue to appeal for public assistance into his disappearance and are asking anyone with CCTV in the area to come forward.
Mr Hayez's mobile phone records have helped investigators narrow down the search area to east of the Byron Bay CBD and in and around bushland to the northeast.
"Our last recorded phone records indicate the phone was used in and around this area," Detective Chief Inspector Matthew Kehoe said in Byron Bay on Monday.
The CCTV footage, which is the last known vision of Mr Hayez, shows him walking down a footpath outside the bar he had visited, initially with his hands in his pockets, then staring down at his phone.
"We haven't located anything of significance thus far but our search continues ... It is very unusual behaviour from Theo.
“He is usually very regular in the contact with his family, hence we do have concerns for his welfare."
Mr Hayez is described as being of Caucasian appearance, approximately 180cm to 190cm tall, with a thin build and blond hair.
He was last seen wearing a black hooded jumper, beige pants and black shoes.
Anyone with any information on Mr Hayez is asked to contact Byron Bay Police on 02 6685 9499.
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