Australia Australia - Theo Hayez, 18, Belgian backpacker, Byron Bay, 31 May 2019 #4

[HinterlandObserver]

Another good pic came up on my feed today that I thought I should post for reference.
Also there’s been someone making claims on Facebook about Theo and another recently missing person. Still lots going on here even though it’s quiet on the thread.

 

[Chiatos]

Another good pic came up on my feed today that I thought I should post for reference.
Also there’s been someone making claims on Facebook about Theo and another recently missing person. Still lots going on here even though it’s quiet on the thread.

Good to know that the case is still "alive"

 

[HinterlandObserver]

Found another pic recently for everyone's reference that shows another angle of the headland.

 

[Pineapple5]

Was Theo into geocaching?

 

[dotr]

By Eve Jeffery June 4, 2025

Not forgotten: six years without Théo

Last Saturday marked six years since Théo Hayez went missing. Hayez, a Belgian tourist, was last seen leaving Cheeky Monkey’s bar in Byron Bay at approximately 11pm on May 31, 2019.

www.echo.net.au

Laurent Hayez with his precious son Théo as a toddler. The family live on memories. Photo courtesy Laurent Hayez.
''The Echo spoke to Laurent on Saturday at his home in Brussels where he prepared for a quiet day. ‘It’s been six years of unanswered questions. Six years of missing him every single day. We remember him every day. His laugh, his voice and his big smile remain so fresh in our memories.’

‘On this sad day of remembrance, I would again like to thank the Byron Bay community for their thoughts and warm messages, which have been reaching us since the early hours of this morning,’ he said.''

Oct 16, 2022

 

[HinterlandObserver]

Was Theo into geocaching?

As far as I'm aware there's no record of any geocaching apps used during his journey. I know it was discussed earlier and Pokémon and randonauting were popular at the time though. Not even his torch was used more than once where the path comes to a crossroads, one of which leads straight to the road and carpark not far away.

 

[dotr]

December 19, 2025 rbbm, lengthy article.

A National Framework of Response to Australia’s Missing Migrants and Non-Citizens | Australian Policy and History Network

Briefing note for: Attorney General, the Hon. Michelle Rowland MP Minister for Home Affairs, the Hon Tony Burke MP Australian Federal Police Commissioner, Krissy Barrett APM Purpose: To call on the Australian Government to strengthen its response to missing migrants and non-citizens in...

aph.org.au

''Some families of missing migrants and non-citizens have directly expressed concerns with how these cases have been handled. For instance, in the case of Prabhdeep “Prabh” Srawn, a Canadian national who went missing while bushwalking in Kosciuszko National Park in 2013, his family were highly critical of decisions made by authorities to scale back and call off the search despite their concerns that significant areas remained unsearched. In this case, the family tried to organise a private rescue team but claimed authorities withheld information which prevented them from doing so.

For some families of long-term missing persons, these outstanding issues have been addressed by charities such as the Missed Foundation which relies completely on donations and community fundraising.

As stated by Laurent Hayez, the father of Theo Hayez from Belgium who went missing in Byron Bay in 2019, “this organisation (the Missed Foundation) has come to supplement the support of the public, but also to fill part of the void left by the authorities in managing many practical aspects such as communication, contact with the media, and many aspects that a distressed family is confronted with when a loved one disappears”.

 

[Morequestionsthananswers]

Another good pic came up on my feed today that I thought I should post for reference.
Also there’s been someone making claims on Facebook about Theo and another recently missing person. Still lots going on here even though it’s quiet on the thread.

Is there another missing person in the area?

 

[Rocket333]

Found another pic recently for everyone's reference that shows another angle of the headland.

Why would you bother trying to climb up and over that big steep slippery rugged rock on a moonless night when the Tallow beach car park and road out is only 400 away? It’d be A LOT quicker and far easier just heading back to town through the carpark and Tallow Beach Road. The only reason that makes sense for anyone to try to climb out is if there was a serious threat I reckon.

 

[ChatteringBirds]

The only reason that makes sense for anyone to try to climb out is if there was a serious threat I reckon.

Maybe he wasn't thinking straight. He had been partying.. .I truly hope there was no real threat.

 

[newbieslueth9]

Did a deep dive on this recently and I really really need people’s opinions because this is driving me crazy especially people who are knowledgeable on tech and how things work with google maps logging locations

Why has no one considered the theory that someone staged the scene to look like death by suicide or misadventure?

The following is all my opinion not saying any of my assumptions are facts just my own proposed theory of what happened

My theory is there were multiple people involved in his abduction which happened at the cricket courts

I think from that point his phone and hat were physically removed from him and one of the individual walked hastily in to the bush through the trail

Most people have a general knowledge of how phones ping and messages can be tracked etc so anyone with half a brain can orchestrate this

I think this individual walked to the shores with his own personal phone, Theo’s phone and Theo’s hat

I think he dumped the hat on the way to support the fact Theo was headed to the beach

I don’t know if the phone was passcode protected but i wish they wrote that somewhere

If it wasn’t I think it’s very plausible that the accomplice could have impersonated Theo by using google translate on their personal phone and if he had half a brain he may have interpreted the texts received before hand to gain an understanding of Theo’s text mannerisms and replies back in short and simple way in French with similar emojis he might use

In regards to the YouTube video anyone with a YouTube app will know YouTube suggests videos based on previous viewing history

Records show only 1.5 mins of YouTube was watched so clearly who ever was watching wasn’t interested

Then the power was powered off and there was no further activity

So these assumptions are based on weighing up probabilities

Assuming there’s multiple individuals involved in the disappearance and men disappearing under similar circumstances in Byron bay in the past I don’t think people can rule out serial killer groups it’s happened in Australia before eg snow town murders where primary motive was sadism

I think there’s an assumption people from a low socioeconomic backgrounds or homeless/ substance misuse effected won’t be bright enough to get away with murder and if there was violence it would be sloppy and easily detected and reported

In regards to Theo’s personality he’s not impulsive and no reasonable person would decide to just hang up with rando people in the dodgiest most isolated part of town In the middle of the night and follow them at a fast pace in to the bush plus lose his favourite hat and not bother to turn around pick it up especially in a country with people who don’t speak the same language

I think most people who listen to a lot of true crime know what evidence is used to track missing people and taking the phone to the shores was deliberate to provide false leads to take attention off the cricket nets

I honestly think the disappearances of men in Byron bay are linked and I’m assuming motive is sadistic thrill kills

There’s so much botched in the investigation like not taking dna samples from the hat and not interviewing the person that exchanged a ‘digital handshake’ with Theo

I think this theory covers the strange route after he arrived at the cricket nets