Early on a jacket was found but quickly discounted. I just can’t find the link. The police released the bottle shop footage to publicise his full outfit, head to toe, to prompt memory and because no clothing has been found.
The phone is a neon purple Oppo as seen today in reports (see link attached).
He apparently went back to the hostel after visiting the bottle shop. He would’ve made the trek between the hostel and town a few times, so you’d assume he’d know the way without needing directions (ie google maps).
He was last captured on footage outside the Aloha apartments just after 11pm. The family believe it to be him in the footage, but the police aren’t using it. He stood there for awhile looking at his phone. It’s been assumed he’s looking at google maps for directions to the hostel. I’m now wondering if he’s actually standing there on the edge of town waiting to meet up with someone, or waiting to hear back from someone on what’s app. He may have made tentative plans to meet them that night and is trying to confirm before walking the final leg home.
He could be in a house.
He doesn’t look wobbly when leaving Cheeky Monkeys to me, and doesn’t look like he’s walking into that pole, as people keep saying. He looks distracted by his phone as soon as he leaves. He also leaves via Kingsley Street and not the expected Jonson Street. He’d be familiar enough with the place by then to know the general way home and that the direct route out of the bar is right and not left.
I reckon he was trying to connect with someone on what’s app from the moment he left the bar rather than the more popular take that he was looking at google maps. He may have told that person he was heading home, or waiting outside Aloha and they’ve caught up with him along the way, even from the other direction. They may have also finally got in touch when he was close to home and he then changed course and headed up the beach.
I’ve read you entered your room at the hostel with a door access card and they could see he hadn’t used his that night (no log in recorded on their system). The maid’s said his bed was made and nothing looked touched. I think it’s been confirmed he didn’t return to his room after Cheeky Monkeys.
Something changed between Aloha and the hostel and probably directed him to the beach. The phone pings at the headland, his whatsapp activity becomes a focal point, and now they’re looking for his phone. Human intervention?
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw...mps-up-around-cape-byron-20190618-p51yrh.html
