Theo Hayez’s family share birthday photo three years after backpacker went missing in Bryon Bay
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Théo Hayez’s devastated family has shared heartbreaking family photos to mark his 22nd birthday.
The Belgian backpacker was last seen at the popular Cheeky Monkeys bar in Byron Bay on May 31, 2019 when he was 18 years old.
Police were notified of his disappearance six days later after he failed to return to his hostel and could not be contacted.
A massive search searched the entire area, but the only potential trace of Mr. Hayez found was a hat.
Investigators believe he fell off the rugged cliffs at Tallow Beach, but many others, including his family, suspect he may have been murdered.
His father, Laurent, was the first to post a photo of Mr. Hayez on the Facebook page Looking for Théo Hayez.
Theo Hayez (right) went missing on May 31, 2019, while backing up in Byron Bay after being thrown from the Cheeky Monkeys bar at 11pm
His heartbroken father Laurent shared a photo of Mr Hayez and his cousin Lisa (above) on the occasion of his 22nd birthday
Hayez’s mother, Vinciane, shared a photo taken just hours after he was born (above) to celebrate his 22nd birthday
The photo shows the missing backpacker as a child with his niece Lisa.
‘Today is Théo’s 22nd birthday. Laurent would like to share this beautiful photo of Théo and Lisa as children, as well as a song they used to listen to together, Unintended by Muse,” the post read.
“Thank you all for your continued support and kindness during our journey to find Théo. He is so deeply loved and missed.’
His mother, Vinciane, also shared a baby photo of Mr. Hayez on the page an hour later.
“A very special photo of baby Théo, only a few hours old, from Vinciane with sadness on his 22nd birthday,” she said.
An inquiry into Mr. Hayez’s disappearance will hear the findings of state coroner Teresa O’Sullivan on Oct. 21 and offer his distraught family a measure of closure.
A widespread search in the Byron Bay area for any trace of Theo Hayez found only a hat (photo, police searched the hills around the Byron Bay lighthouse)
Their hopes were sparked after private investigator Ken Gamble told the public in May that $500,000 had led to “credible clues.”
“I am very grateful to everyone who has provided information. Some investigations are still ongoing,” he told 7News at the time.
The recent $500,000 reward offered by the NSW government has provided new clues that are also being thoroughly investigated.
“I’m still hopeful that the case will be resolved.”
Mr Hayez’s family has long believed that their son was with another unknown person the night he disappeared.
“Every day Théo goes missing is just as difficult as the last as we navigate our endless and ambiguous grief and continue to search for answers to what happened to our boy,” they said in a statement.
Mr Hayez’s devastated family (above) believes he was with another person the night he disappeared in Byron Bay
An inquiry into the (above) disappearance of Mr Hayez will hear from the NSW State Coroner on October 31
“As with all families of missing people, we cannot grieve and heal properly because we have no conclusion.
“An important question we want to answer is whether he was with anyone on the night of May 31, 2019 – which we strongly believe given the circumstances.
“Walking into the woods and climbing alone the grassy side of the Cape Byron cliff at night is something we don’t think Théo would have done unless he was with someone at the time.”
Earlier this year, the judicial inquiry heard evidence that Mr. Hayez places on a precipitous headland below the famous Byron Bay lighthouse around midnight on the night of his disappearance.
Data from Google location services and his cell phone connection shows that Mr Hayez walked to a local sports field after being kicked out of the bar.
Family and friends say Mr Hayez (left) was responsible, not a big drinker, kind and risk averse
Police believe Mr Hayez attempted to climb a cliff below the Byron Bay lighthouse and was dragged into the sea (photo, police search the area)
He then made his way through the Arakwal National Park to the beach below the headland, before climbing the steep climb to the lighthouse.
Phone tracking stops there.
Police believe Mr Hayez went up the cliffs by the beach and dropped his phone before falling himself and being swept outside to see.
However, his family insists he would never be reckless enough to climb cliffs in the middle of the night, especially after a few drinks.
His friends supported his family’s account of Mr Hayez’s responsibility and told the inquest that Mr Hayez was kind and responsible and did not take drugs or drink excessively.
Other people think that Mr. Hayez could have been disoriented from being drunk or looking for a beach party in Cozy’s Corner with an unidentified person.