Man, 32, to be extradited to NSW to face murder charges over the disappearance of Jay Brogden

Queensland police will seek to extradite a man from New South Wales to face a murder charge over the disappearance of Jay Brogden more than a decade ago.

The 32-year-old Coffs Harbour man was charged by NSW Police on Tuesday in relation to other matters, but is expected to be charged with Mr Brogden’s murder when he arrives in Queensland later this week.

The arrest comes about three weeks after police reopened the Jay Brogden cold case.

A billboard was erected in early March on the highway at Cannonvale, the sleepy holiday town where 21-year-old Mr Brogden was last seen, to encourage anyone with information to come forward. 

Mr Brogden was reported missing in April 2007 after he disappeared in Cannonvale in the coastal region of the Whitsunday Region.

His body has never been found. 

Mr Brogden’s heartbroken mother Gina Merritt said her son had previously preempted his own disappearance in a chilling conversation they had before he went missing. 

Queensland police will seek to extradite the man from New South Wales to face the murder charge 

Police erected a billboard this month (pictured) on the motorway at Cannonvale asking anyone with additional information to come forward

‘Mum, you don’t understand, these people mean business – people go missing up there and are never found,’ Mr Brogden is believed to have said to his mother before he vanished, reported The Courier Mail.

In 2015, a coroner ruled Mr Brogden died as a result of foul play and referred his case to homicide detectives.

Mr Brogden’s family had previously spoken of their ‘frustration’ at being let down by police who failed to solve his suspected murder. 

On the day Mr Brogden went missing, he had fought violently with his partner and had been receiving death threats because of his treatment of her. 

Mr Brogden’s (pictured) heartbroken mother Gina Merritt said her son had previously preempted his own disappearance

Mr Brogden’s aunt, Kate Merritt, previously told The Daily Mercury the family’s interaction with police had been ‘extremely frustrating’, but they just wanted closure.

‘As far as the case of Jay, they’re still not interested in doing any investigation. It’s just totally puzzling us as to why,’ Ms Merritt said in January.

Mr Brogden’s other aunt, Caroline, also said at the time the family hadn’t heard from police since they posted a $250,000 reward for information in 2015.

‘We really had to push for that reward too,’ she said.