Australia Australia - Theo Hayez, 18, Belgian backpacker, Byron Bay, June 2019

[Aron.Wor]

You're right. In fact, Byron Bay and the surrounding areas have become the perfect location for a person who wishes to hunt humans. (excuse the language)

 

[SouthAussie]

You're right. In fact, Byron Bay and the surrounding areas have become the perfect location for a person who wishes to hunt humans. (excuse the language)

That sounds terrible, and very scary. With so many backpackers and other transients passing through town, I can understand what you are saying.

I am also wondering why Theo's dad says that Theo is "in grave danger". It is an unusual statement to make, without knowing any circumstances, and makes me wonder what else the police know that they have not released to the public.

One thing that I have noticed is that the relentless media about Theo's disappearance is not letting up. It is not typically this relentless in these situations ... so I think the "grave danger" statement may have real validity, for whatever reason.

 

[gregjrichards]

I guess Byron Bay is not the laid back, relaxed, friendly place that it once was ......


Drunken violence has become so common in Byron Bay the local newspaper simply reports: "More drunken violence in Byron Bay". In other words, it's no shock to the locals.
Tweed Byron Police crime manager Acting Inspector Saul Wiseman told the Gold Coast Bulletin this month the chance of being attacked in Byron Bay was the highest of any region in NSW.

"The chances of being assaulted in Byron Bay on a Friday or Saturday night are significantly greater than anywhere else in the state right now," he told the Bulletin.

There are dozens of equally beautiful places on the north coast of New South Wales that come without the problems of Byron Bay.
Towns where you can actually walk down the main street at night without fearing that you will be punched in the head.
No Cookies | The Advertiser


..... day-trippers from Queensland; family holiday-makers from Melbourne; cashed-up visitors with a nose for real estate development opportunities.
These days Byron Bay – laid-back, alternative Byron Bay – is all of those people and more. It's backpackers, flashpackers, celebrities, hippies, surfers, drinkers, bogans, weirdos and everyone in between. It's a chilled out place where locals tailgate you if you're doing anything less than the speed limit, where drunk kids yell at you from across the street.
Paradise lost: What happened to Byron Bay?

I’ve read comments from locals on social media that Byron has a Meth/Ice problem but I don’t know how bad it is. I’m not suggesting Theo was taking anything it just appears that Byron is not the wealthy paradise you would think it is from the coverage of film stars.

I hope law enforcement make a breakthrough very soon.

 

[gregjrichards]

The missing clue: Why backpacker Theo Hayez's WhatsApp messages may NEVER be unlocked as his heartbroken father pleads with the tech giant to release them

Police and family confirmed Theo was using WhatsApp to communicate on the night he went missing, but the encrypted messaging service may not be able to access his information even with the go-ahead from police.

WhatsApp confirmed it is assisting authorities to the best of the company's ability, but rigid laws mean the company can only help 'in accordance with applicable law.'

Why missing backpacker Theo Hayez's WhatsApp messages may NEVER be unlocked | Daily Mail Online

New article.

I must admit I’m not a fan of WhatsApp because of this and the fact terrorists and criminals use it because of the encryption.

 

[Rocket333]

Let

It sounds as if the telco has been very prompt in releasing the data from Theo's phone. So I think the police will know the times of his phone activity.

WhatsApp is cooperating, and so can release the data they have ... which appears to be "a user’s name, last seen date, IP address and basic information but not the content of messages". I believe that means they will know when Theo used the app, just not what was in any of his messages. I am also thinking it will reveal what users Theo's messages were sent to and received from.
Perhaps there is something there that we have not yet heard about?

Let’s hope so as it seems the clues (as known to the public) are limited to two cctv captures, the general area of a phone ping, the purchase of alcohol and his attire. I initially thought he’d gone in the water but his phone still working at 1pm infers it at least didn’t get wet. The inspector said they’re clueless. I’m now wondering if the phone is on him and he’s in the dense scrub. Can you do an aerial heat/infra red scan? ‍

 

[Rocket333]

What I am wondering is why it took so long for Theo to be reported missing, with no communications being sent since his night out. Presumably he was not travelling with anyone who would notice his absence, not scheduled to be anywhere in particular where his absence would be thought strange.

His parents said he spent a long time meticulously planning his trip and making reservations.

Sounds as if he may have had about a week planned to be in Byron Bay.


"The 18-year-old Belgian had thought carefully about his decision to travel before commencing his university studies in science and mathematics. He'd planned his gap year well in advance, organising each moment of his time ahead, booking transport and accommodation."
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw...theo-hayez-still-missing-20190614-p51xts.html

In her interview, his mother said she checked on him everyday but sometimes he was out of range and she came to expect that he’d come back online soon. I think after two or three days she got worried. He was travelling alone there it seems, and someone said the guy with him in the bottle shop footage noticed his absence from the hostel and raised an alarm. I guess it all just took that long for people to realise he wasn’t just off sightseeing or whatever.

 

[Via Marple]

This link seems to know exactly what WhatsApp can provide:

So, while the actual WhatsApp chats (including multimedia files) are E2E secured, this is what data the police can squeeze out from WhatsApp if they want:

-Your name, mobile number, IP address, location, mobile network and your mobile handset type.

-With whom you are chatting, for how long and at what time. And possibly, your contacts as well.

WhatsApp E2E Encryption: What Data the Police Gets And What Not

 

[Via Marple]

There may be a way to get message contents too... But that depends on this. If Theo had set up WhatsApp to back up to a cloud account, back up daily, and allow it over wifi and cellular, his messages might be backed up unencryted to the cloud, soon after WhatsApp detected he was not active on the phone, in the middle of the night in my case. I tried it last night.

If that's the case, the messages are there and they would have to ask someone like Google or Apple to access his account.

 

[Rocket333]

That sounds terrible, and very scary. With so many backpackers and other transients passing through town, I can understand what you are saying.

I am also wondering why Theo's dad says that Theo is "in grave danger". It is an unusual statement to make, without knowing any circumstances, and makes me wonder what else the police know that they have not released to the public.

One thing that I have noticed is that the relentless media about Theo's disappearance is not letting up. It is not typically this relentless in these situations ... so I think the "grave danger" statement may have real validity, for whatever reason.

I reckon he’s just stating the obvious: a foreign kid missing for 18 days (and not by his own design) does place him at great risk and grave danger. I also think it’s a language thing too, and the heavy accent makes it sound loaded.

The general media seem to me tobe all over it just now, since the father spoke at the press conference. I don’t recall it being covered on the nightly news much until this week. We sadly have a “ideal victim” mentality too which does impact who garners the attention and interest.

 

[snowleopard]

Sad and confounding! I haven't read every post here, so maybe I missed it, but according to the news I saw, he'd been in the country for 8 months and was due to go home the day after he disappears? That makes me think this wasn't some random kidnapping/assault. I have a feeling someone knew him and his schedule and made a fateful decision before he 'got away', JM.02.

 

[Rocket333]

You're right. In fact, Byron Bay and the surrounding areas have become the perfect location for a person who wishes to hunt humans. (excuse the language)

So macabre. Someone was asking about any connection with those two French guys who disappeared off the beach further south (?) a few months back. They were assumed drowned as their clothes were on the beach and rental car with passports and stuff nearby. Neither body had been found, and the families thought them both entering the rough sea, with sharks having been sighted, was out of character.

 

[gregjrichards]

There may be a way to get message contents too... But that depends on this. If Theo had set up WhatsApp to back up to a cloud account, back up daily, and allow it over wifi and cellular, his messages might be backed up unencryted to the cloud, soon after WhatsApp detected he was not active on the phone, in the middle of the night in my case. I tried it last night.

If that's the case, the messages are there and they would have to ask someone like Google or Apple to access his account.

I can’t see Apple being willing to help or Google just look at the lengthy court battles families have had with Apple trying to get access to their deceased loved ones Apple device.

 

[Rocket333]

Sad and confounding! I haven't read every post here, so maybe I missed it, but according to the news I saw, he'd been in the country for 8 months and was due to go home the day after he disappears? That makes me think this wasn't some random kidnapping/assault. I have a feeling someone knew him and his schedule and made a fateful decision before he 'got away', JM.02.

He disappeared on 1st June and was due home in Belgium on the 14th. He’d already booked a bus to Sydney or Melbourne, so was about to head south and soon fly home.

 

[Via Marple]

I reckon he’s just stating the obvious: a foreign kid missing for 18 days (and not by his own design) does place him at great risk and grave danger. I also think it’s a language thing too, and the heavy accent makes it sound loaded.

The general media seem to me tobe all over it just now, since the father spoke at the press conference. I don’t recall it being covered on the nightly news much until this week. We sadly have a “ideal victim” mentality too which does impact who garners the attention and interest.

Very true, agree with your points.

Very important for loved ones to try hard to get public interest too. Even police would try harder.

Feel sorry for those who were like abandoned by society, no one cares where they went.

 

[gregjrichards]

He buys alcohol with a mate on Jonson Street and they head somewhere to drink it. A house? Looks like he was after a big bottle and then his mate carried it out. Where’s this bottle shop and which way we’re they heading? He/they then go to Cheeky Monkeys and Theo’s seen leaving alone and heading up Kingsley Street whilst checking his phone. The police are only confirming the bottle shop and Cheeky Monkeys footage, and not the alleged Shirley Street footage (why?). His cousin Lisa said he was filmed on Shirley Street veering right into Dryden Street. Was it not him or too ambiguous to definitively confirm? Did he go straight from Cheeky Monkeys back to where he’d been drinking beforehand, and not actually head home after all? The police were asking for footage from Tennyson Street too and that runs off Kingsley and heads east.

@RNBreakfast MSM Radio show

“Theo Hayez was asked to leave Cheeky Monkey's bar on the evening of May 31 because he was 'intoxicated' but 'he left quietly, was happy to go and had planned to go back to the Wake Up Hostel', @ReddieNews
on the mysterious disappearance of the Belgian backpacker.”

 

[Rocket333]

Here’s a map showing the direct route home from Cheeky Monkey’s. The red lines however show Kingsley Street, the way he went when he left Cheeky Monkeys, and also Tennyson Street which the police mentioned when requesting public info.

If they aren’t confirming he’s in the the cctv near the Aloha & Dryden Street (as his cousin mentioned), then maybe he went up Tennyson Street and stayed around the beach & lighthouse? They’re searching everywhere, but lately around the lighthouse & Wategoes....

 

[mussopossum]

I am wondering,

in the MSM they are showing the last footage of him on CCTV in the 711 store. I have not seen any mention in the articles or the caption under the CCTV of the person that he is seen with in the store or leaving the store with. Is this person known? was he the connection to W/A platform that he may have met up with or did the W/A messaging take place later that night. Sorry if this has been mentioned previously I have not come across it.

IMO and not speculating

 

[Via Marple]

@RNBreakfast MSM Radio show

“Theo Hayez was asked to leave Cheeky Monkey's bar on the evening of May 31 because he was 'intoxicated' but 'he left quietly, was happy to go and had planned to go back to the Wake Up Hostel', @ReddieNews
on the mysterious disappearance of the Belgian backpacker.”

Thanks,

And this is the MSM news report by ABC News, that contains similar information.

Why missing backpacker's encrypted WhatsApp messages may never be unlocked

This is IMO important revelation. When he's intoxicated, I don't think he would plan very well.

Walking along the beach to get some fresh air was a possibility. Walking a lot further than he thought.

It does look like they are searching in the right place today. Fingers crossed..

 

[SouthAussie]

Can you do an aerial heat/infra red scan? ‍

RSBM

Police currently have drones out during the search. There are also thermal imaging cameras that NSW Polair use.

Have not yet heard if they are using the thermal imaging in this case.


BBM
Officers from Tweed/Byron Police District with assistance from the NSW Police Dog Unit, specialist drones, SES volunteers, NSW Surf Lifesaving and members of the community have conducted extensive land, air and sea searches to the east and north-east of town, as well as near Belongil Beach and Cape Byron.
Latest News - NSW Police Public Site


The new aircraft was expected to be delivered in 2010-11. ''The new state-of-the-art twin-engine Polair is designed for night work, including low-level flying, and will have improved surveillance capability with thermal imaging recording cameras,'' she said.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/safety-rules-will-ground-nsw-police-helicopters-20091003-gh7h.html

 

[bearbear]

Their focus will be on the area between Wategos Beach and The Pass, on the western side of Cape Byron, because telecommunications records indicated that this may have been the location of Mr Hayez' last activity on his phone before it ran out of battery.
Inspector Kehoe said searchers were looking for "any piece of evidence" relating to Theo, including his phone – understood to be a neon purple Oppo device.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw...mps-up-around-cape-byron-20190618-p51yrh.html