Heartbroken families will be forced to celebrate Christmas without their loved ones who disappeared without a trace with some still missing more than a decade later.
In 2023, about 56,000 missing persons reports were made to police – that’s one person every nine minutes – but 98 per cent are found.
About 2,500 people are not found and are listed as long-term missing – that is, missing for more than three months.
Most long-term missing persons are entered onto the National Missing Person Coordination Centre’s (NMPCC) register at the discretion of the state and territory police.
Currently, The NMPCC – which is a non-operational arm of the Australian Federal Police – has 800 missing persons listed across the country.
Some 339 people went missing in NSW, 116 in Western Australia, 79 in Queensland, 74 in South Australia, 71 in Victoria, 68 in Tasmania, 44 in the Northern Territory and nine people in the Australian Capital Territory.
‘Missing persons is a serious and complex issue. The impact across society is enormous,’ an AFP spokesman told Daily Mail Australia.
‘The uncertainty about the whereabouts and safety of a loved one can be a traumatic experience that can last for weeks, months or sadly, years.’
Angie Fuller vanished without a trace on January 9, 2023 and was last seen on Tanami Road, 15km west of the Stuart Highway intersection in the Northern Territory
Angie Lee Fuller – last seen in January 2023 in Alice Springs, The Northern Territory.
Angie Fuller from Alice Springs, was last seen on Tanami Road, 15km west of the Stuart Highway intersection in the Northern Territory, on January 9, 2023.
The 30-year-old mother-of-two was with her boyfriend, driving her maroon Toyota Corolla along the Tanami Road when the car was involved in an accident.
When the car left the roadway, Angie and her boyfriend ran away from the scene into surrounding bushland.
Police conducted extensive searches across the desert, including helicopter and drone searches, but did did not find any trace of the young woman.
Nine months after her disappearance Northern Territory Police offered a $250,000 reward for information leading to her location.
Assistant Commissioner Peter Kennon said ‘our investigators remain focussed on establishing what happened to Angie, where she is and who, or what, is responsible for her disappearance.
‘Somebody knows what happened to Angie and we will not stop investigating until we find her. This case will not be closed until we can provide closure to her family.
Siriyakorn ‘Bung’ Siriboon, 13, went missing on the morning of June 2, 2011 while on the 1km walke from her home to her school Boronia Heights College
Siriyakorn Siriboon – Last seen in June 2011 in Boronia, Victoria.
Siriyakorn ‘Bung’ Siriboon, 13, went missing on the morning of June 2, 2011 somewhere between her home in Melbourne’s outer east and her school Boronia Heights College.
Bung had waved goodbye to her stepfather Fred Pattison at about 8.30am and headed to school on her own – despite typically making the one kilometre walk with a classmate.
She was dressed in her blue and white school uniform and was also wearing her dark blue zip-front school jacket and carrying a backpack.
A neighbour spotted Bung walking a short time later on Elsie Street, towards Albert Avenue, however the young girl did not arrive at school and failed to return home.
Her parents tried to reach her on her mobile phone, only to realise their girl had left her phone at home.
Bung’s disappearance continues to baffle police, despite a $1million reward, numerous leads and a renewed public appeal three years ago.
She would be 26-years-old now and is described as Thai, with black long hair, brown eyes and an olive complexion.
Jeremiah Rivers mysteriously disappeared on an outback pig hunting trip with a large group of people
Jeremiah Harold Rivers – Last seen in October 2021 in Noccundra, Queensland.
Jeremiah Rivers mysteriously disappeared on an outback pig hunting trip with a large group of people.
Mr Rivers was last seen running after a big at about 9.30am on October 17, 2021, at a campsite 20km south of Noccundra along Wippo Creek.
The then 27-year-old was with his brother and a friend along the Wilsons River, when a short time later the group went hunting and found som pigs.
Mr Rivers jumped out of the vehicle and chased after a pig along the Wippo Creek and has not been seen since.
Police conducted an eight-day search for Mr Rivers, which yielded no results.
During a coronial inquest into his disappearance, state coroner Donald McKenzie said it was ‘possible’ Mr Rivers’ death resulted from foul play given that the group gave up to seven different versions of his disappearance to police.
Daniel Sheppard went missing on the 10 minute walk home from Port Adelaide Train Station following New Year’s Eve celebrations on December 31, 1994
Daniel Sheppard – last seen in January 1994 in Port Adelaide, South Australia.
Daniel Sheppard, then aged 19 years, attended New Year’s Eve celebrations with his brother and friends at Lennies Tavern Glenelg on December 31, 1994, before catching a tram into the city to continue celebrations in Hindley Street, Adelaide.
In the early hours of New Year’s Day 1995, he walked alone to the Adelaide Railway Station and boarded the 4.13am train to Outer Harbor to go home.
There were around 30 other commuters on the train, including three girls he knew from school.
At 4.35am he got off the train at the Port Adelaide Train Station and was seen on the southern pedestrian ramp walking towards Baynes Place.
The walk home should have taken 10 minutes but Mr Sheppard was never seen again. He was last seen wearing blue jeans and a maroon denim shirt.
He is suspected to have been murdered. A $200,000 reward remains on offer to anyone who provides information that leads to the recovery of his body or conviction in his case.
Julie Cutler was 22 when she was last seen leaving the Parmelia Hilton Hotel WA at 12.30am on June 20, 1988, after a staff function
Julie Cutler – last seen in June 1988 in Perth’s CBD, Western Australia.
Julie Cutler was 22 when she was last seen leaving the Parmelia Hilton Hotel WA at 12.30am on June 20, 1988, after a staff function.
Two days later her car was found in the ocean off Cottesloe Beach. The car was about half-way between the Surf Life Saving Club and the groyne.
At this time the car was upside down and half buried in the sand. The rear seat of the vehicle was located separated to the vehicle.
Nothing of significance, except several champagne flutes from the hotel, were found in the car and the back seat had washed up on the beach.
Former WA Police detective Ron Carey said had her body or belongings been in the car they would have washed up on the beach based on the currents that evening.
Around the time of her disappearance, an owner of a kebab shop had found a plastic bag left by a customer containing a pair of black stockings and a white blouse similar to the type worn by staff at the Parmelia-Hilton.
A shoulder bag she was known to carry was also never found and Mr Carey believes she met with foul play in the five hours from 12.30am until dawn, with someone else later disposing of her car.
Zac Barnes was travelling in car through his hometown Thorton, NSW, with two men on November 13, 2016 when he became panicked, jumped out of the vehicle and ran into bushland. That was the last time anyone had seen him
Zac Barnes – Last seen in November 2016 in Thornton, Central Coast, NSW.
Zac Barnes was travelling in car through his hometown Thorton, NSW, with two men on November 13, 2016 when he became panicked, jumped out of the vehicle and ran into bushland. That was the last time anyone had seen him.
The then-18-year-old bricklayer had plans to spend the weekend with mates after work on Friday, but the events leading up to his disappearance remain unclear.
His friends said he fled from the vehicle at about 8pm at the intersection of Haussman Drive and Tripp Close, but his mother Karen Gudeli has never believed their story.
The teenager did not have his phone or his wallet with him and was only wearing a faded blue singlet, blue board shorts and work boots.
His bank accounts, social media, Medicare card or phone since have remained untouched since the day he went missing.
In the days leading up to his disappearance, he lost his job after an altercation with a colleague at work.
Zac also asked for $1,200 from his parents to help to repay a debt he owed and sent a chilling Snapchat message to friend which just said ‘Dead’.
He spent what’s believed to be his final day alive at a friend’s place, drinking, playing board games and watching movies with a group of mates.
Ms Zrinski, then 30, was last seen in the carpark of the Greenfield Tavern on Mimosa Road, Greenfield Park, in Sydney’s southwest on November 28, 2022
Jessica Zrinski – Last seen in November 2022 in Greenfield Park, NSW.
Ms Zrinski, then 30, was last seen in the carpark of the Greenfield Tavern on Mimosa Road, Greenfield Park, in Sydney’s southwest on November 28, 2022.
About 10 minutes later she was seen getting into a Blue Holden Commodore, which is believed to have travelled west on the M4 motorway and Great Western Highway towards the Blue Mountains.
Police were alerted on Friday, December 3, 2022 when family members could not locate or contact her.
CCTV footage showed the vehicle travelling through Horsley Park at about 10.15pm that evening and Mount Victoria just before 9am the following morning.
Police believe Ms Zrinski was alive in the Commodore at mid-morning on November 29 before she vanished without a trace.
The driver of the Commodore, who has never been publicly identified, was unable to assist in the investigation after detectives seized and forensically examined the car.
Police have issued several appeals in the time Ms Zrinski has been missing and announced a $500,000 reward for information in November 2023.
Rahma El-Dennaoui was just 19 months old when she disappeared from her bed in her family home during the early hours of November 10, 2005
Rahma El-Dennaoui – Last seen in November 2005 in Lurnea, NSW.
Rahma El-Dennaoui was just 19 months old when she disappeared from her family home in Sydney’s south western suburbs in the early hours of November 10, 2005.
She was last seen by her parents at 2am between two of her sisters when she was put in a bed between two of her sisters underneath the bedroom window.
About six and a half hours later, at 8.30am, her parents were unable to find her inside the house and police were contacted.
It’s believed the baby girl may have been abducted, although no motive has been proven.
Despite an extensive investigation, including land and air searches, and a $250,000 reward being posted for information, police have yet to find any trace of the toddler.
A coronial inquest held in 2013 failed to unearth a convincing explanation for her disappearance.
Anyone with information that could help with any of these investigations should contact Police Link on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Anytime you have concerns for the safety and welfare of someone and their whereabouts are unknown, you can report them missing to your local police. You do not have to wait 24 hours to report someone missing.’
For confidential support call Lifeline 24-hour crisis support on 13 11 14 or Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800
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