Theo Hayez cousin Lisa says Belgian backpacker wasn’t alone when disappeared in Byron Bay

New twist in case of missing Theo Hayez as his cousin issues heart-breaking video and says his family are ‘convinced’ he was not alone when he vanished

  • Lisa Hayez believes her cousin Theo was not alone on night of his disappearance
  • Theo, 19, was last seen in Byron Bay before he disappeared on May 31, 2019 
  • His cousin said Google data showed he had been walking through bushland
  • She said it was impossible to think he could have navigated it without assistance 

Lisa Hayez has issued a video saying her cousin and missing Belgian backpacker Theo was not alone before he vanished from Byron Bay more than a year ago.

She said in a Facebook video on Friday that google data had tracked the 19-year-old walking through bushland on the night of his disappearance from the northern New South Wales coastal town on May 31, 2019. 

‘After we were able to access his google data, we realised that the night he disappeared, he walked a very unusual path through thick bushland that is impossible to imagine that he walked alone,’ she said.

‘Which leads us to believe someone must have been with him.’   

Lisa Hayez has issued a video saying her cousin and missing Belgian backpacker Theo was not alone before he vanished from Byron Bay more than a year ago

She said in a Facebook video on Friday that google data had tracked the 19-year-old (pictured, Theo Hayez) walking through bushland on the night of his disappearance from the northern New South Wales coastal town on May 31, 2019

She said in a Facebook video on Friday that google data had tracked the 19-year-old (pictured, Theo Hayez) walking through bushland on the night of his disappearance from the northern New South Wales coastal town on May 31, 2019

The leading theory in Hayez’s disappearance is that he fell while trying to climb cliffs near Tallows Beach and his body washed away. 

He was last seen leaving the Cheeky Monkey bar and staff at Wake Up! Hostel – the hostel Hayez had been staying at – notified authorities of his disappearance when they found his belongings, including his passport, left untouched several days later.  

Police began a land, sea and air search with search efforts continued well into 2020.

A cap believed to belong to Hayez was discovered in bushland off Tallows Beach and police conducted DNA tests on hair found in the hat. 

Although the testing was inconclusive, Hayez’s family are certain it belongs to the missing backpacker.

The hat was found by a member of the public in the same area where the last ‘ping’ from Theo’s phone was recorded on June 1 around the Cape Byron Lighthouse.

Lisa says she believes someone who was in Byron Bay around the time of the mysterious disappearance might have crucial information.  

‘Because Byron is such a transit town, travellers come and go every day,’ she said in the video.

Theo Hayez with his girlfriend Severine Marcotty. Theo vanished on May 31 last year after leaving Cheeky Monkey's in Byron Bay, northern New South Wales

Theo Hayez with his girlfriend Severine Marcotty. Theo vanished on May 31 last year after leaving Cheeky Monkey’s in Byron Bay, northern New South Wales

Data from Theo's phone has traced this route as his last known movements before he vanished on the night of May 31 2019

Data from Theo’s phone has traced this route as his last known movements before he vanished on the night of May 31 2019

‘Someone might have been with him or seen him and might not have even known he had gone missing.’

Her comments come just days following her heartbreaking tribute to her cousin on the the one year memorial of his disappearance.  

‘We all miss you so much. You’re the kind of person who brings so much happiness to everyone who meets you,’ Lisa said.  

‘You cannot imagine how much I miss your laugh… every time I saw you I couldn’t stop laughing because you were naturally making me so happy.

A photo of Hayez was projected across the town’s famous lighthouse while the tribute was live streamed online. 

Theo Hayez was last seen leaving the Cheeky Monkey Bar on May 31 in Byron Bay, northern New South Wales

Theo Hayez was last seen leaving the Cheeky Monkey Bar on May 31 in Byron Bay, northern New South Wales

Search efforts for the 19-year-old have continued into 2020, with police conducting DNA tests on hair found in what is believed to be Theo's grey cap, which was discovered in bushland off Tallows Beach

Search efforts for the 19-year-old have continued into 2020, with police conducting DNA tests on hair found in what is believed to be Theo’s grey cap, which was discovered in bushland off Tallows Beach 

The lighthouse was also lit up in orange, Theo’s favourite colour. 

‘From the bottom of my heart, I would like to thank all those who contributed to (Sunday’s) incredibly beautiful event in honour of Theo,’ Hayez’s mother Vinciane Delforge said in a statement on Tuesday. 

‘I wish I had been there with you all and I think a lot about you, the Byron Bay community, my Australian friends.

‘Your continuous support means a lot to us.

‘It helps us endure this very difficult time and the pain of not knowing what happened to Theo.’

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk