Zac Barnes’ inquest into his disappearance in Thornton NSW concludes as his mum vows to keep fighting for answers

The grieving mother of missing teen Zac Barnes has burst into tears as she vowed to keep fighting for answers after friends shared more harrowing details about the days leading up to his baffling disappearance.

Zac, 18, was last seen getting out of a friend’s car on his way to bushland in a panic near Thornton railway station in the NSW Hunter region on the night of Sunday 13 November 2016.

The teen did not have his phone or wallet with him and has not been seen or heard from since. His phone and social media accounts have since remained inactive.

His disappearance and presumed death was the subject of a three-day corona investigation in Sydney this week.

A number of witnesses testified, including Zac’s best friend, his boss, and several friends who saw him the weekend he disappeared.

The inquest also heard confronting details about Zac’s drug and alcohol use.

After three days of confronting evidence, Zac’s mom Karen Gudelj bravely took to the stand to pay an emotional tribute — revealing that if her son was indeed dead, she just wanted to bury him.

Her powerful speech began with a slideshow of photos of Zac at various stages of his short life as a loving son, stepson, brother, and friend camping, in the pool, at birthday parties, and other family gatherings.

“I wanted to show what Zac was really like,” she told the court

“We’re here and we talk a lot about the past few days…but he was so much more than that.”

“Zac respected everyone and he deserves to be respected. If Zac lost his life, we deserve to be able to bury and remember him.”

Ms. Gudelj described Zac as a cheerful, chubby boy who was her “little protector,” especially when she first introduced him and his brothers to her husband Michael.

Zac was also a loving big brother to younger sisters Makayla and Mia, changing their diapers and reading stories to them when he was just 10 years old.

He had big dreams of becoming a doctor until he was 10 years old when he changed schools and his grades started to decline as he found a social life.

He wanted to leave school to join the workforce and considered joining the army when he was 17.

He later arranged his own work experience and became an apprentice bricklayer.

Zac disappeared two weeks before a big milestone for his mother.

“2016 was meant to be a big year for us as Zac had turned 18, Cody (an older brother) had just turned 21 and I was about to turn 50,” she said.

“Zac and I were going to have our first legal drink together. But it didn’t happen.’

Some of Zac’s friends and their parents are still in contact with his family seven years ago.

Ms. Gudelj thanked all the witnesses who testified during the inquest.

The inquest previously heard that Zac used illegal drugs and was known to drink and party with friends.

Zac’s best friend Thomas Aubrey revealed that the couple had been dealing with a number of personal issues in the months leading up to his disappearance.

“We both had some struggles then,” he told the court on Wednesday.

Due to his own problems, Mr. Aubrey moved to Muswellbrook, where he was living at the time of Zac’s disappearance.

He last heard from Zac three days before he disappeared on November 10. There was no contact in the five days before.

Mr. Aubrey also worked weekends, which meant he didn’t go out as often.

“We stopped hanging out while I was at work, so we weren’t seeing (each other) much at the time,” Mr Aubrey told the court.

He also told the court that he had never heard of the two friends who last saw Zac as he got out of their car at Thornton railway station, crossed the road and drove into the bushland.

“I found out Zac was missing after a friend came to see me,” Zac said.

“I never heard of the last people seeing him until after Zac went missing.”

Zac’s former boss, Alan Kirby, hired him 10 months earlier, in January 2016, and described the apprentice mason as a typical 18-year-old.

The court heard from several witnesses that Zac had an altercation with a worker at work while drunk at work the previous Friday, two days before he disappeared

Mr Kirby told the court he has no recollection of firing Mr Barnes, despite stating so in his 2017 police statement.

Another buddy recalled hearing that Zac got into another fight with another friend he had spent the weekend with on the afternoon of his disappearance.

Ms. Gudelj attended the inquest every day, supported by her husband Michael, son Cody and two young daughters.

She revealed that the evidence heard took an emotional toll, especially the last hour when she performed.

“It was heartbreaking to put the pictures together, I haven’t looked at the pictures in a while, it really reminded me how much pain is still there,” she told reporters afterwards.

“It was hard (going through the evidence) but we fought so long for this day, so I had prepared myself mentally.

“I have great appreciation for the witnesses who came forward and were open, honest and vulnerable. I can’t thank them enough because we really needed to hear it so we can move forward with the next steps.”

Ms Gudelj thanked everyone across Australia and around the world who have sent messages of support on their harrowing long journey so far.

“I don’t think we could have gotten through this without the support of the community,” she said.

“There was often a random stranger who said, ‘we’re with you, we’ve got your back, keep going.’

“That was enough to get up and go the next day.”

Zac would be 25 if he were alive today.

He was last seen wearing a faded blue singlet, blue board shorts and work boots.

Deputy State Coroner Carmel Forbes will deliver her findings at a later date on whether Zac died and how, along with any recommendations.

The response of emergency services to Zac’s disappearance is also being examined.

“With all the information that has come out in recent days, there will be a direction and we are looking forward to it,” Ms Gudelj said.

“We’re going to fight this and we’re going to find him.”

For confidential support, please contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or beyondblue 1300 22 4636.