Deceased/Not Found Australia - Stephen Angel, 59, Point Peron and Garden Island, Western Australia, missing 3 April 2019, inquest November 2025

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Where is child sex accused Stephen Angel?

Police, friends believe accused child abuser Stephen Angel may still be alive​

PerthNow
August 31, 2019 2:40PM

When Stephen Angel’s kayak was discovered floating upside-down between Point Peron and Garden Island in April, it seemed like nothing more than a tragedy.

But when it was later revealed the 59-year-old was facing charges of sexual penetration and indecent dealing with a child under the age of 13, conspiracy theories grew quickly.

Months on from his disappearance, an investigation by The West Australian has revealed details of name changes, yacht ownership and a mysterious lump sum payout which make the case even more curious.

Mr Angel, who had only been using that name since 2014, had a bench warrant issued for his arrest when he failed to attend Mandurah Magistrate’s Court on April 30.

He had earlier pleaded not guilty to the charges, which stemmed from historical allegations.

As of this week, he was still being treated as a missing person.

“As is the nature of missing persons inquiries, specifically those without any direct eye witnesses to the disappearance, we do not definitively know what happened to Mr Angel,” WA Police Det-Sgt Jude Seivwright said.

A kayak on a jetty near the Rockingham Volunteer Sea Rescue

headquarters, not far from where Stephen Angel went missing. Credit: Danella Bevis

“We cannot discount the possibility that Mr Angel is alive.

“The investigation into Mr Angel’s disappearance will continue by the WA Police missing persons team and Mr Angel will remain recorded as a long-term missing person until such time as he is located.”

While revelations of his boating background fed into theories he had fled the country across the water, family friends say they believe that is unlikely.

“He’s perfectly capable of sailing off into the sunset but I don’t think he would hurt his children by leaving them in the lurch,” they told The West.

 

[Rikissa]

On 27 October 2025 the coroner's Court of Western Australia published the result of the inquest into the suspected death of Stephen Angel in 2019.

Inquest into the Suspected Death of Stephen ANGEL

 

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Inquest into the Suspected Death of Stephen ANGEL

Investigating police concluded that Stephen had likely died on 3 April 2019 whilst kayaking, and that there are no suspicious circumstances in his disappearance.

The Coroner was satisfied beyond reasonable doubt on the evidence adduced at the inquest that Stephen is deceased.

The Coroner determined that for unknown reasons Stephen kayaked into open ocean waters in a kayak that was not suitable for that purpose, and in entirely unfavourable conditions.

The Coroner was satisfied that an incident has occurred which has prompted Stephen to activate the beacon, after which he has succumbed and died, and that his body has submerged in deep ocean waters and was not able to be located during the marine search.

The Coroner concluded that the cause of Stephen’s death must remain unascertained and where verdicts of natural causes, accident, misadventure or suicide could not be excluded, made an open finding as to the manner of Stephen’s death.