Australia AUSTRALIA - Det. Insp. Jay Notaro, 45, disappeared after going for a surf at Broken Head nr Byron Bay, NSW, 25 Mar 2025

[MsMiniSleuth]

Local police have launched a new search for a missing Queensland police officer despite authorities calling off the official search.

Detective Inspector Jay Notaro, 45, disappeared on March 25 after he was spotted going for a surf at Broken Head near Byron Bay in northeastern NSW.

An extensive water, land and aerial search was launched at 12.40pm the following day after he failed to report for duty at Ipswich Police Station, west of Brisbane.

Search crews discovered his surfboard - with the leg rope attached - undamaged on the sand, while officers found his car and keys in a carpark about 500metres away.

NSW Police announced the multi-agency search was suspended on Friday as rough weather conditions hindered efforts to locate Insp Notaro.

[...]

By Monday afternoon, police focused their attention on a stretch of water at North Seven Mile Beach and were spotted using drones in their search of the area.

Police told the community they were searching for a black surf shirt and pair of boardshorts.

[...]

At the time of his disappearance, Insp Notaro was reportedly staying in the Byron Bay area for several days ahead of his 45th birthday last Monday.

Insp Notaro was reportedly due to attend a birthday celebration dinner on Tuesday night with his friends but pulled out with complaints he was feeling unwell.

[...]

He was then last seen on CCTV footage pulling into the Broken Head car park at around dawn on March 25.

The lack of damage to Insp Notaro's board, and the benign surf conditions have made his disappearance all the more perplexing.

[...]

Big twist in search for missing Aussie cop

Queensland police officer Jay Notaro disappeared on March 25.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[Coral Dale]

I live in West Australia. This case is touching so many hearts.

 

[MsMiniSleuth]

Police are working on a number of theories on the disappearance, including foul play, self-harm, a surfing mishap or a medical episode.

The surfboard was found on the beach with the leg rope "fully intact", he was apparently a strong swimmer, and "very experienced surfer” that would be “extremely capable”.

It would appear, on the surface, either a suicide, or possible fake death.

https://www.news.com.au/national/nsw-act/courts-law/search-for-missing-cop-called-off/news-story/febcccbdc98ae6168bb7a4c3154a4cd5

 

[Bonnieroo]

I keep checking in case there has been any updates about Jay. Absolutely devastating for his family and friends.

I’ve been wondering about the keys. Has it been confirmed how his keys were found? I wondered if they were in a lock box secured to the vehicle, in the ignition or just loose in or near the car?

If found unsecured in or near the car then that could indicate foul play or possibly suicide. If they were in a lock box and this was Jay’s normal protocol, then you would be thinking more along the lines of a medical episode in the water or shark attack.

 

[Scooby-Doo]

I keep hoping for a miracle, that maybe he needed a timeout

But I feel there could be more to it

With the board and leg rope attached, no damage, and it was found on the sand at Broken Head Beach.

The fact that they are looking for board shorts and a black surf shirt linked to Notaro, has me thinking that he never went in for a surf, and where's his phone?

Either he's walked away or gone into another vehicle

Surely, there would have been other surfers in the water who would verify if he was there at that early time

There would have to be CCTV and, dash cam around the street/houses

https://www.news.com.au/national/nsw-act/search-resumes-for-queensland-cop-jay-notaro-despite-the-formal-search-being-called-off/news-story/8672c7442bb56be7274885b369105365