Devastated father’s desperate plea to find his four-year-old son nearly a year after the boy disappeared with his mother
- A search is underway to find a four-year-old boy who vanished 12 months ago
- Thomas Bakyrey, 4, disappeared with his mum Sarah Elizabeth Tate, 38, last year
- Police believe the pair are longer living in South Australia and may be in Victoria
- A Recovery Order has been issued by the Federal Circuit Court of Australia
- Police have urged anyone with information on Thomas or Sarah to get to contact
A national search is underway to help find a four-year-old boy nearly 12 months after he vanished with his mother.
Federal Police on Monday issued a plea to help find Thomas Alexander Bakyrey, 4, who disappeared with his mother Sarah Elizabeth Tate, 38, seven months ago.
The toddler’s father, Sergiy Fedirovich Bakyrey, 36, last saw him at Kurralta Park in Adelaide’s inner southwest in October last year and has been desperately looking for him since.
Federal Police on Monday issued a plea to help find Thomas Alexander Bakyrey, 4 (pictured), who disappeared with his mother Sarah Elizabeth Tate, 38, seven months ago
‘I am very worried about Thomas’ welfare as his disappearance was without any warning and I do not know where he is,’ Mr Bakyrey told The Advertiser.
Mr Bakyrey said the pair went missing while he was interstate working and he believes the child will be ‘distressed’ that he was suddenly uprooted.
Authorities said the pair were last seen in the state’s southeast near the Victorian border, but police do not believe they have fled overseas.
Police believe Ms Tate is no longer living in South Australia and may have fled to Victoria with her son, who turns five in December.
An arrest warrant has been issued for Ms Tate, a former Mercedes College student, who was reportedly not in paid employment at the time of her disappearance.
The 38-year-old’s white, 2017 Toyota Rav 4 with South Australian registration S785BXR was last seen at Bordertown in late February.
A Recovery Order has been issued by the Federal Circuit Court of Australia authorising AFP, state police forces or a court marshal to ‘recover the child’.
Ms Tate (pictured) is 38 years-old, has long brown hair, which is sometimes dyed in shades of red, she wears glasses and is approximately 163cms tall and of a small build
At this time, the Recovery Order has not been executed.
AFP acting Manager National Response Operations Paul Hopkins said he hopes someone in the community will recognise Thomas or Sarah and contact police.
‘The pain of a missing child is incomparable. We can only imagine what Sergiy and the rest of Thomas’ family are currently going through,’ Mr Hopkins said.
‘If you see Thomas or Sarah, or have any information on their whereabouts, we urge you to contact Crime Stoppers and help reunite Thomas with his family.’
‘Hiding a child from their families can have adverse effects and the AFP strongly urges the return of Thomas to his home in Adelaide,’ he said.
Ms Tate is 38 years-old, has long brown hair, which is sometimes dyed in shades of red, she wears glasses and is approximately 163cm tall and of small build.
According to the boy’s father, Thomas was reportedly due to start at an Adelaide Hills school this year but failed to attend.
Despite posting a birthday message for Thomas last November, Ms Tate hasn’t posted anything to her social media channels, according to her friends.
The 38-year-old has also not had any contact with her family since the pair disappeared.
Police have urged anyone with information on the whereabouts of Thomas or Ms Tate to get to contact with Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Ms Tate’s white, 2017 Toyota Rav 4 with South Australian registration S785BXR was last seen at Bordertown, near the South Australian and Victorian state border, in late February