Search for missing man, 27, is ‘heating up’ after the personal trainer vanished without a trace in Ficks Crossing
The grief-stricken family of a young man who disappeared from a popular campsite are hopeful he can be found after four police officers joined the search.
Sunshine Coast man Jack McLennan, 27, was last seen in the Ficks Crossing area, three hours north of west Brisbane near Murgon, on October 4, 2024.
The gym instructor spent time with a friend at the fishing spot but is believed to have left on foot sometime between 8pm and 10pm.
A manhunt was launched after his family reported him missing the next day.
A land and air search that focused on the ground west of Murgon failed to locate Mr McLennan and was scaled back three weeks later.
But his mother, Kellie Moody, has not stopped searching for her missing son and has been coordinating extensive searches with the help of the community since October.
Faith Tkalac, the mother of Huon Valley man Jari Wise who died in a car crash in 2020, flew from Tasmania to support the ongoing search efforts.
Ms Tkalac claimed things are “starting to heat up” in the search for Mr McLennan in a post shared on the Help Find Jack McLennan Facebook page on Tuesday.
Queensland man Jack McLennan (pictured) was last seen on October 4 in the Ficks Crossing area, three hours north of west Brisbane near Murgon.
Police found the 27-year-old’s (pictured) shoes on October 10, six days after he went missing
“It’s starting to get warmer in some areas up there, and that’s because of this super strong mother bear [Ms Moody]’, wrote Ms Tkalac.
“Four more investigators (the uniformed kind) are en route from Brisbane.
“I know you’ve lost all confidence in the Queensland Police Service, but they’re listening to you now, darling. You have something huge Kell, even bigger than your broken heart.”
Ms Moody previously shared her frustration with police efforts in the search for her son and urged anyone with information to come forward.
“The frustration is palpable and thankfully I don’t feel it alone,” she wrote.
“I don’t need to know your name, just say it, because withholding information will only eat away at you. Never be afraid.
“Seriously, resources are so lacking that the search was stopped way too early.”
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Queensland Police for comment.
The missing personal trainer (photo) had been on a boys’ outing, but is believed to have left on foot on October 4 between 8pm and 10pm.
Police also found Mr McLennan’s (pictured) hat during a search in the Murgon region
The update comes after Mrs Moody claimed her son had met ‘unsavory people’ the night before he disappeared.
Mrs Moody said the idea that her son’s disappearance was ‘crime related’ was the worst-case scenario, but she hoped he was still alive.
“Jack was not one to be confrontational, especially when it came to alcohol and others who I believe have a short temper,” the mother of three wrote online.
‘I know one thing. If Jack saw something unjust or morally wrong, he would say something and it might irritate certain corrupt scum living in our so-called idyllic community.”
Mrs. Moody hopes her son’s case will be transferred to the Australian Federal Police Missing Persons Profile, where she hopes further resources will be received.
On October 10, police released CCTV footage showing Mr McLennan at a bottle shop on Lamb Street in Murgon at 1.30pm on October 4 – just hours before he went missing.
The 27-year-old then got into a car with a friend with whom he spent a few hours at Ficks Crossing before disappearing.
On October 10, detectives found a pair of white sneakers near Ficks Crossing, believed to belong to Mr. McLennan.
The shoes were found about 300 meters from the Bunya Highway, a major road that runs through the region.
Officers found what they believed to be Mr McLennan’s hat near McAlister and McLucas streets in Murgon on October 11.
CCTV footage showed Mr McLennan at a bottle shop on Lamb Street in Murgon at around 1.30pm on October 4 – just hours before he went missing (pictured)
Police dive squad, police dogs, SES volunteers and other specialist teams have been scouring the area west of Murgon in search of the missing 27-year-old, who has yet to be found.
The official search was scaled back over the weekend of October 19 and 20, but was briefly revived in November after Mr McLennan’s wallet and bank card were found on private property.
The items were found on November 17 in a property closely adjacent to the search area on Ferris Road between Ficks Crossing and Murgon.
Detectives from the Darling Downs Criminal Investigation Branch and Homicide Investigation Unit have since launched Operation Whiskey Pocket.
In their last update on October 21, police said evidence continues to be analyzed and evaluated based on new information received.
“Police are appealing for witnesses, particularly someone who camped overnight in the Ficks Crossing area, to come forward,” police said in a statement.
‘This person was probably driving a dark-coloured vehicle with a roof tent. “Investigators are also appealing to anyone who saw anyone walking along the Bunya Highway towards Wondai at around 10.40pm on October 4 to contact police.”
Mr McLennan is described as approximately 185cm tall, has light brown hair and brown eyes and was last seen wearing a black T-shirt and dark shorts.
Anyone with information on his whereabouts is urged to contact Police Link on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
A GoFundMe has been launched to raise money for the McLennan family to fund their numerous searches for the missing 27-year-old.