A new theory has emerged in the mysterious disappearance of four missing Vietnamese exchange students who have all vanished from South Australia in the past two months.
The strange and unusual case made headlines earlier this month when the host family of one of the students, Sunnie Nguyen, 17, made an impassioned plea for information to help her get home.
The Year 11 student had dinner with her host family at their home in South Plympton, south Adelaide, on the evening of January 8 before she was later found missing from her room.
Her phone was also immediately turned off and social media accounts shut down.
While her host mother May Zervaas sought answers from authorities, it was later revealed that three other international students had been reported missing between December 2023 and January 2024.
Now South Australian police have revealed they believe the teens are on the run and ‘actively evading authorities’.
Sunnie Nguyen, 17, (pictured) went missing from her host family’s home in South Plympton on January 8
“All lines of inquiry in the investigation indicate that some of these youths may have made the interstate journey and may remain there,” an SA Police spokesperson said.
“There is currently nothing from any investigation to indicate that these young people are in immediate danger and it appears that they are actively evading police.
“SA Police continue to work with interstate police colleagues and AFP to help locate these young people.”
SA Police said they have since been able to make contact with the families of the young people in Vietnam, who have shared no concerns about the students’ welfare.
Ms Zervaas was checking Sunnie’s room at around 11pm on January 8 when she discovered the teenager had disappeared – along with her backpack, laptop, some important identity documents and some clothing.
Her daughter Mary told Daily Mail Australia at the time that they were very concerned because she was very shy and had difficulty speaking English.
“She’s come out of her shell with the students here and with us, but when we go out in public she still gets other people to talk for her,” Mary said.
‘When she first arrived, if she went out alone, she would come home almost straight away because she didn’t speak English.
‘We have done our best to teach her English and encourage her to speak English at home. She has improved a lot, but not enough to get by.”
Sunnie is described as ‘very nice’ but very shy
Daily Mail Australia understands that each case is treated as a separate case.
At the time of Sunnie’s disappearance, a Vietnamese community leader in Adelaide said the missing students may have traveled interstate.
“I hope this is the case because 17-year-old children want to go somewhere together because of the school holidays and don’t want to tell anyone,” said Lien Nguyen-Navas of the Vietnamese Women’s Association.
“I hope that was the case.”
The Zervaas family hopes that if Sunnie sees this story, she will contact them and let them know that she is doing well.
Sunnie is known to regularly visit Adelaide’s CBD, Marion and South Plympton.
Anyone with information is urged to contact SA Police on 131 444 using report number 2400009568.