No sign of life for a year, day for day. Théo Hayez, originally from Overijse, then 18, had been traveling to Australia since the end of 2018. He was last seen on the evening of May 31, 2019 in the seaside resort of Byron Bay when he had to return to Belgium in early June. His phone had been registered by a terminal the next day near the lighthouse in the northeast of the locality.
One year later, a new website has been launched by the parents of the young Belgian tourist in order to gather information on his disappearance. Today, the investigation continues and the young man’s relatives hope to obtain answers to their many questions. “Despite an ongoing investigation by the Byron Bay police, the circumstances of his disappearance are still unclear. Since then, family and very dedicated members of the Byron Bay community have worked tirelessly to publicize the disappearance of Theo and trying to find answers to the mystery that surrounds him“, write his relatives.
The latter call any person with elements allowing to clarify the disappearance of Théo to come forward. “There are many locations and each reported sighting will be investigated”, specifies the family of the young man.
RECALL OF FACTS
November 2018: Arrival of Belgian Théo Hayez (18) in Australia with a Working Holiday visa
May 29, 2019: Arrival of Théo Hayez in Byron Bay, New South Wales, Australia. Its accommodation at the Wake Up! Hotel, facing Belongil beach, is scheduled until June 3
May 31, 7:45 p.m .: Théo Hayez can be seen on a video from a surveillance camera of a wine merchant, Nothern Bottle Store, making a purchase. He is accompanied by a young man (questioned by the police during the investigation and not worried).
May 31, 11:00 p.m .: Théo Hayez is seen for the last time outside the Cheeky Monkeys nightclub, a video from a surveillance camera filmed his exit. We see him walking by manipulating his cell phone. He was asked to leave the establishment because of his intoxication but did not resist.
June 1, shortly before 2:00 a.m .: The young man’s mobile phone, OPPO R17, is bound for the last time not far from the Byron Bay lighthouse. He was previously in touch with relatives by instant messaging service, including WhatsApp. No communication has been recorded since.
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June 3: Théo Hayez had to vacate his hotel room, to go to Melbourne (Victoria) and take a flight there ten days later to Belgium.
June 6: Théo Hayez’s disappearance is reported to the Australian police. His personal effects, including his passport, were found intact in the hotel room. A wanted notice was issued in Australia and police searches were started. They are supported by volunteers, Surf Life Saving and Marine Rescue rescuers. The police call for all reports. No financial transactions have been noted since May 31.
June 8: Belgian embassy in Canberra confirms close contact with Australian police
June 10: Australian police are broadcasting the surveillance camera video of the Cheeky Monkeys’ exit and using any footage filmed by on-board cameras and private surveillance between 11:00 p.m. May 31 and 4:00 a.m. June 1.
A crowdfunding page has been launched to help move the family of the disappeared to Australia. Unused funds are promised to associations, Belgian and Australian, of missing persons.
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June 12: Belgian federal police are launching a wanted notice. Australian police use drones and lifeguards at sea to search for Belongil Beach.
June 17: Laurent Hayez, Théo Hayez’s father, is present in Byron Bay and addresses the media during a joint press conference with the police. He says he is “disconcerted”. Mr. Hayez launched a call to WhatsApp messaging to collaborate in the investigation, which agreed to provide assistance while the data is encrypted. The company can consult certain data such as user name, IP address and last activity. Australian police are broadcasting a new video by Théo Hayez, that of the evening of May 31 during his visit to the liquor store. Detectives specializing in homicides back up the investigators.
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June 18: The searches are moving towards the lighthouse of Byron Bay, in particular to find the telephone of the young man whose description is communicated to the volunteers who continue to contribute to the beatings and excavations. During the following days, climbers and divers are associated with police searches.
21st of June: The physical searches of Australian police officers were interrupted during the weekend and the bad weather did not allow them to continue on the following days. The Byron Bay community remains very mobilized, with the pursuit of research and distribution of research notices.
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June 26: Announcement that three Belgian police officers will travel to Byron Bay: two investigators from the Hal-Vilvorde federal judicial police and one from the missing persons cell.
June 28: Arrival of the three Belgian police officers who meet their Australian counterparts and the Hayez family before continuing the collaboration on site until July 3.
July 3: New South Wales police stop search, but investigation continues
September 16: Police announce that they have passed on Theo’s disappearance file to the New South Wales Coroner
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