Markiah Major: Chilling theory emerges at inquest of missing Far North Queensland teen who vanished without a trace
An investigation into the disappearance and suspected death of a teenage boy is rocked by a shocking new theory that he may have been kidnapped by bikers.
Markiah Major, 17, was last seen at his home in the Aboriginal Shire of Yarrabah in Far North Queensland on August 15 last year.
His mother raised the alarm two weeks later after he failed to contact family or access his bank account.
Police and volunteers searched extensively for the teenager, but could find no trace.
A coronial inquest in Cairns this week will hear witness statements to provide answers and closure for Markiah’s heartbroken family.
The first witness, a minor who cannot be named, told the inquest on Monday that the teenager may have come into contact with a motorcycle gang before his disappearance.
An investigation into the disappearance and suspected death of 17-year-old Markiah Major (pictured) has found the teenager may have crossed paths with a cyclist before disappearing.
The witness told the inquest Markiah was ‘hanging out with the wrong people’ and claimed he had started using drugs in the months before he disappeared. Cairns Post reported.
They also claimed he was stealing vehicles at the time and took a ‘flashy’ green car filled with large amounts of cash and drugs.
Days after Markiah disappeared, the witness claimed they saw an Instagram photo of him tied to a chair with blood on his head.
They remembered the message with a paragraph of text, but could not remember what was written.
Other witnesses called to the witness box will be questioned about the car’s presence in Yarrabah four days after Markiah disappeared.
The car was unknown to the small community of 2,500 residents.
He was last seen unattended and parked next to a headwater creek with an unknown person’s wallet inside before later being driven away.
A witness told the inquiry on Monday that they saw an image of Markiah (pictured), bloodied and tied to a chair, on Instagram days after he disappeared
Markiah’s mother told police at the time of her son’s disappearance that he had “been away for a few days” in the past and had expected to hear from him.
Acting Detective Constable Chetham said Markia’s mother “conducted her own investigation” before approaching police, who then launched an investigation into his disappearance.
He added that the teenager did not talk about leaving the area and did not have any confrontation with his family or friends.
Specialist police, including the dive team and a human remains sniffer dog, launched a third search through the bushland south of the town in November.
Despite extensive searches, the police have yet to find any trace of the Markiah.
Police have yet to find any trace of the teenager, despite several searches of the bushland surrounding the town, including the dive team (pictured) and a human remains sniffer dog.
“It’s actually the lack of contact with family and friends that is the red flag for us,” Inspector Chetham told the ABC at the time.
‘His mother says that she certainly expected contact much earlier. Markiah has gone out for a few days in the past, but nothing like this was the case, so it’s very unusual.”
He added that Markiah’s behavior was “very normal” leading up to his disappearance.
Family, friends and community members attended a candlelight vigil last night on what would have been Markiah’s 18th birthday.
The three-day investigation continues.