F.A.Q.
What are the most recent updates/facts?
The most recent updates/facts can be found in the episodes of "The Lighthouse" podcast by David Murray at The Australian (freely available).
A new episode is released every Friday.
For additional information, please subscribe to The Australian.
Théo was seen at the Northern Bottle shop at 7.45pm on the 31st of May.
He was last seen leaving Cheeky Monkeys at 11pm when he was asked to leave due to being intoxicated. He cooperated fully and was not aggressive. Others who attended the club that night describe him as not being overly drunk, was friendly and having a nice time.
Théo sent a message to a friend at 12.20am on the 1st of June.
Théo’s phone pinged a tower that encompasses the area from Clarkes Beach to the Lighthouse before 2pm on June 1. Police and search groups are searching for Théo’s phone. Other areas besides this have also been extensively searched.
We can confirm that a hat matching the description of Theo’s was found in bushland by volunteers.
What was Theo wearing?
A black hoodie
Tan pants
A grey hat with a white puma logo
A black watch
Completely black shoes
For pictures of these, please download the High Resolution poster and see pictures below..
Is there a map of all the places that have been searched?
Yes, a centralised map of the areas searched has been created to help volunteer coordinators organise and plan searches. If you are planning to search in a specific area and wish to know if that area has already been searched, please contact us at theohayezgps@gmail.com.
Have the beaches/creeks/rivers etc been searched/is it possible he went for a swim?
The beaches/creeks/etc have been searched by volunteers, police, surf life savers, SES, metal detectors etc.
Have Google Accounts/Google Maps/Facebook/Snapchat/Messaging Apps/Camera/Apps been checked?
Yes, different accounts and apps have been thoroughly looked into. The police and family have this information.
Has CCTV/Dash cam footage been looked into?
Yes, many local places/private properties have been asked for CCTV footage. There is a vast amount of CCTV being reviewed. The police have requested that anyone with dashcam footage from the late hours of the 31st of May to the early hours of the 1st of June forward the footage on to the police.
Have the Taxi companies/Uber been investigated?
Yes, Théo's Uber account was looked into and Taxi services have been contacted.
Have the hospitals/emergency rooms in Byron Bay and surrounding areas been contacted?
Yes, in the first few days after the family were alerted to Théo being missing they contacted every hospital they could think of.
Have metal detectors/drones/helicopters/thermal imaging drones/boats/police divers/sniffer dogs etc. been used in the search?
Yes, both volunteers and the police have used various methods including all of the above during the search.
I saw a post that Theo was seen in (insert city here), is this true?
This page will confirm when Théo is found. Please be mindful that there are many sightings and each one that is reported will be looked into.
Have psychics/mediums been brought in?
Yes, there has been some involvement and any information has been reported.
Has the man with him in the bottleshop/people at the backpackers/the Cheeky Monkey etc been interviewed?
Yes, the man with Theo at the bottleshop has been cleared and assisted with the search. The police have information of/have spoken with any relevant people (including the security guards).
Has the poster been shared on different Facebook groups/Instagram?
Yes, it has been shared to many groups across Australia, and it doesn't hurt to share among more. Instagram posts have been created as well as the hashtags #findtheohayez and #theohayez and shared by influencers with large amounts of followers.
I heard he was seen running down the street, is this true?
This is unconfirmed. A person who was being interviewed said they saw him running down Shirley street and while it can't be ruled out there is conflicting information to suggest it wasn't him.
Is the CCTV footage from Caltex/Aloha valid?
Although it was originally thought to be Théo, the footage has now been deemed inconclusive by the police.
Has his cards been used/did he use card or cash/did he withdraw a large amount?
His bank accounts and cards have not been used since leaving the Cheeky Monkey the night of May 31st. He wasn't carrying cash with him as far as we know (reported by a friend) and he did not withdraw any large sums leading up to the 31st.
How do we know he didn't return to the Wake Up! Backpackers?
There is no evidence to suggest he returned to the backpackers that night. He did not use his swipe key, CCTV has been checked and others staying at the backpackers have been spoken to.
Was he looking for (farm) work while he was here?
No, he was only travelling for 8 months and then he was going home. He was not looking for work.
Is it possible he does not want to be found/is trying to overstay his Visa?
Théo had only been travelling Australia for 8 months, so he was not at risk of his Visa running out. He was excited to go back home and had his bus journeys to Sydney/Melbourne booked coordinated with his flights back to Belgium, about a week after he was last seen. All of his personal belongings including his passport were left at his room at the Wake Up! Backpackers.
HOW CAN YOU HELP?
1. Providing valuable information.
If you have any information on Theo's whereabouts please email Theo's family on theohayezinfo@gmail.com or call +61 474 383 843.
If you believe you have information you can also report to the following:
Byron Bay Police: +61 2 6685 9499
Crime Stoppers (Anonymous): 1800 333 000 or complete an anonymous report online at https://www.crimestoppers.com.au/ under 'New South Wales'
Belgian police: opsporingen@police.belgium.eu or 0800/30 300
You can also send information through to the anonymous mailbox PO Box 208 Suffolk Park NSW 2481
2. On-the-ground search:
Volunteers are organising group search. You can find information regarding location and time in the Facebook page on the Events tab.
We encourage volunteers to perform individual search. However, safety comes first. Please make sure to let other people know that you are planning a search, including the date, time and location.
You will need:
- sturdy walking shoes, preferably boots (as some of the terrain is very steep and there are snakes around)
- long, thick pants and long-sleeved top
- raincoat
- sunscreen & hat
- water & snacks
It’s a good idea to bring a bamboo or large stick as it is very helpful in the bush.
If possible please use GPS tracking on your phone and send data through to theohayezgps@gmail.com at the conclusion of your search. Several apps are available such as Motion X and Runtastic. If you haven't used an app, please contact us and describe where you've searched or send a google maps screenshot.
3. Displaying posters and contacting establishments:
The poster can be downloaded here.
A spreadsheet was put together to assist in marking off different Backpackers and Facebook groups that have been contacted all over Australia. as well as a list of the celebrities and local businesses that have been contacted (Please note: there may be quite a few missing from this list but it will continue to be updated).
There is also a template that can be used to assist in emailing places, this can be found on the Facebook group in 'Files'.
4. Sharing information on social media.
Please share any information (especially search events) among social media such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. You can use the hashtags #findtheohayez and #theohayez.
5. Please limit the number of personal messages sent to the family.
The family is really thankful to receive messages. However, please remember that they are constantly being contacted, which can become overwhelming. Reading messages also takes time, which is really valuable.
ABOUT
"Théo told us he couldn't wait to come back to Belgium"
"Théo arrived in Australia on the 12th of November.
He was welcomed and hosted by his Godfather, who lives in Melbourne. That’s where Théo spent the first month of his adventure.
Then, Théo had the chance to get a job at the Australian Open Tennis.
In February, he went to Tasmania with a French backpacker.
Once back on the mainland, Théo met with his cousin Lisa and they both started working in a farm to harvest apples and pears.
He also had the opportunity to work in a gardening company (like his father, who is a Landscape Architect)
After that, he traveled with three other backpackers to Alice Springs in central Australia, after which he moved north to Cairns.
He began to travel south along the east coast to finally get to Byron Bay on May 30th.
He had planned to leave Byron on Monday, June 3rd to catch-up with his Godfather in Melbourne on June 5th....
He was very happy to return home on June 13th! A few days before his disappearance, he asked his mum if it was possible to organize a party at her house with all his friends to celebrate him being back in Belgium...
He also asked me (Laurent) if it would be possible to work with me in gardening to earn some money once he was back.
In September, Théo intends to start engineering studies in mechanical technologies, related to the environment.
Since he was very young, Théo is very interested in the environment and dreams of inventing a car that will have zero impact on the planet ....
His Mom, his brother Lucas and I keep hope, thanks also to the incredible support of the Belgian, Australian and Byron community. Hoping for the possibility of another scenario than the one of the accident !!!!
If, however, Théo has left this poor Earth, and is currently having fun with whales, turtles and dolphins ...; Vinciane, Lucas and I, while looking at the beautiful smile of Théo on the pictures of his Australian adventure, are relieved to see that he spent the last 6 months (of his too short life ...) in a beautiful country, meeting wonderful people !!!!
Thank you to the people of Belgium, Australia and elsewhere for the attention and love that you bring to Theo !!!!
You are not mistaken! He deserves it !!!!!"
Vinciane Delforge, Lucas and Laurent Hayez
