Australia Australia - Theo Hayez, 18, Belgian backpacker, Byron Bay, June 2019

[Jenz]

I don't believe that there is no other footage of Theo. I believe it is far more likely that there is no other footage that has been published, or has been publicly spoken of by the police.

The family are not allowed to speak of the investigation, the police choose not to speak of it.

On Sunday Mr Hayez declined to comment further on the official investigation, saying simply that the family "trusts the police".
Family continue to hold out hope for backpacker Theo Hayez as Belgian police arrive

Police only release what they want to release. They seem to always hold back info ... in every case I have ever followed here, and I have followed quite a few.

The police have released clear footage of Theo, in the bottle shop and outside Cheeky Monkey's. So now everyone knows who they are looking for, and what Theo was wearing. That is all we need to know, as far as the police are concerned. imo

 

[happyday]

I agree. They seem to not be expanding on what happened at CM. Someone angry with him could have followed him from there but that doesn't fit in with his text message after 12. Nothing seems to add up.

So true. It could just be the bar doesn’t want to look bad by kicking out a severely intoxicated person to fend for himself on the street, but it’s just weird.

 

[happyday]

New to this thread, haven’t gotten to read all the posts yet, but just wanted to say that here in the States many young men leaving bars end up found in the water.

You are so right. And sometimes it takes a surprisingly long time to find them. And I think there’s a good possibility that this happened to Theo. That or foul play connected to whatever got him kicked out of the bar. I just don’t know.

 

[SouthAussie]

Exactly. They only ask for Tennyson St. Footage. They also asked for Jonson but they might be after Jonson footage immediately after he left CM perhaps to see if anyone followed him from CM or from another street near the corner. They don't ask for any cross streets and they don't ask for Middleton St. They seem to be thinking he went down Tennyson. Tennyson appears to have a sandy track at the very end going into bushland. There is also the oval which could be some sort of shortcut. Although they could be asking for Tennyson footage because they already have footage from the other surrounding streets.

Funny, though, that they have not requested CCTV or dashcam vid from Massinger Street or Lawson Street or any of the other streets that head toward the lighthouse or Tallow Beach or Byron Beach.

As you say, they might have quite a few pieces of footage from various areas/houses/vehicles by now ... or not.

I have often wondered if the dashcam vid they have asked for, from Tennyson and Jonson Sts, is more about vehicles on the road around there at the time - or shortly thereafter - than it is about Theo himself. Theo stopping to speak with someone who was sitting in a vehicle, a vehicle following him, a vehicle going along the same route as him.

 

[CuriousCritter]

I have been following, and this is my question as well. Why was he kicked out of CM? All of the reports and articles say he was cooperative, not “overly drunk,” not aggressive, not a big drinker, had only 2 drinks. So what happened? You don’t get asked to leave a bar for drinking. Did he fight with someone? Flirt with a girl and make someone angry? Something happened at CM that we do not know about, and IMO this is key to what happened to him.

Check the reviews out for CM on Google, it appears they even kick people out that haven't even been drinking. Not very good reviews for this place that's for sure.

cheeky monkeys byron bay - Google Search

 

[CuriousCritter]

I have been following, and this is my question as well. Why was he kicked out of CM? All of the reports and articles say he was cooperative, not “overly drunk,” not aggressive, not a big drinker, had only 2 drinks. So what happened? You don’t get asked to leave a bar for drinking. Did he fight with someone? Flirt with a girl and make someone angry? Something happened at CM that we do not know about, and IMO this is key to what happened to him. MOO

Check the reviews out for CM on Google, it appears they even kick people out that haven't even been drinking. Not very good reviews for this place that's for sure.

cheeky monkeys byron bay - Google Search

 

[SouthAussie]

Check the reviews out for CM on Google, it appears they even kick people out that haven't even been drinking. Not very good reviews for this place that's for sure.

cheeky monkeys byron bay - Google Search

Even kicking a girl out and leaving her standing there feeling unsafe on the street, I see.

 

[mussopossum]

I agree. They seem to not be expanding on what happened at CM. Someone angry with him could have followed him from there but that doesn't fit in with his text message after 12. Nothing seems to add up.

Unless If he argues with the person at CM, leaves CM and that person was known to him from the Hostel, he / she Whats Apped him to meet up to talk or whatever after they then left the club later. Just another thought which i think someone already may have said.

 

[mussopossum]

Theos mobile phone was confirmed a Oppo smart phone? Do we know which model. I have read a few reports an R17, is that a Reno? 17?
OPPO Reno 5G - Further Your Vision | OPPO Australia

With the police searching from Theos phone last ping around the lighthouse with confidence, I read about the OPPO phone having a GPS dual frequency feature. This was on the Oppo Reno.

Here is an explanation on the GPS function
Dual-Frequency GNSS - An important location feature your phone is probably missing

I wonder if Theos phone was still sitting in google maps or an app for location / directions which this dual feature is much smarter and reliable than normal single gps and that ping / information is what leds police so confidently to the Cape / lighthouse area I beleive it was?

 

[happyday]

Check the reviews out for CM on Google, it appears they even kick people out that haven't even been drinking. Not very good reviews for this place that's for sure.

cheeky monkeys byron bay - Google Search

WOW!!! That place sounds TERRIBLE by the reviews! You are right—seems they kick people out on a whim for no reason whatsoever. People saying they got kicked out for being “too drunk” before having anything to drink at all, not looking right, being gay, sitting too long etc. After paying a $25 cover charge for a bar! No thank you.
But this could definitely explain why we have no good explanation for why Theo was kicked out. Could be no reason at all! I am more at a loss of what could have happened to him.

 

[mussopossum]

I was reading that Theo had left his passport at the hostel when he went out. And it still remained there after he went missing. How did he gain entry to CM club? Their reviews seem to be filled with negative comments and heavy security presence which to me says that they didnt take short cuts in ID-ing people (could be wrong) but...

NSW liquor and gaming states he would have had to have used his passport to enter or a foreign drivers licence. The only other ID allowed was Australian states based ID or an Australian or international passport. In Belgium 18 is the minimum age to drive. Either he had got his licence already in Belgium r he didnt.. so if he didnt how did he get in to CM. Whats interesting is CM have replied to a negative review on Google stating that due to strict liquor laws in NSW the only valid foreign ID in NSW accepted is a passport. Interesting if that is their understanding of the law, so how did Theo get in then? Below is from NSW liquor and gaming site which states that a foreign Drivers licence is also acceptable is it not?

In NSW, patrons must be at least 18 years of age to enter a licensed venue and drink alcohol.

In line with responsible service of alcohol principles, anyone who appears to look under 25 years old needs to provide proof of age when entering a licensed venue or buying or consuming alcohol from that venue.

Currently, accepted proof of age documents include:

• a driver or rider licence or permit issued by an Australian State or Territory or any foreign country
• Australian or other passport
• NSW photo card
• proof of age card issued by a public authority of the Commonwealth or of another State or Territory for the purpose of attesting to a person's identity and age
• Keypass (over-18) identity card issued by Australia Post.

 

[simochomps]

I was reading that Theo had left his passport at the hostel when he went out. And it still remained there after he went missing. How did he gain entry to CM club? Their reviews seem to be filled with negative comments and heavy security presence which to me says that they didnt take short cuts in ID-ing people (could be wrong) but...

NSW liquor and gaming states he would have had to have used his passport to enter or a foreign drivers licence. The only other ID allowed was Australian states based ID or an Australian or international passport. In Belgium 18 is the minimum age to drive. Either he had got his licence already in Belgium r he didnt.. so if he didnt how did he get in to CM. Whats interesting is CM have replied to a negative review on Google stating that due to strict liquor laws in NSW the only valid foreign ID in NSW accepted is a passport. Interesting if that is their understanding of the law, so how did Theo get in then? Below is from NSW liquor and gaming site which states that a foreign Drivers licence is also acceptable is it not?

In NSW, patrons must be at least 18 years of age to enter a licensed venue and drink alcohol.

In line with responsible service of alcohol principles, anyone who appears to look under 25 years old needs to provide proof of age when entering a licensed venue or buying or consuming alcohol from that venue.

Currently, accepted proof of age documents include:

• a driver or rider licence or permit issued by an Australian State or Territory or any foreign country
• Australian or other passport
• NSW photo card
• proof of age card issued by a public authority of the Commonwealth or of another State or Territory for the purpose of attesting to a person's identity and age
• Keypass (over-18) identity card issued by Australia Post.

From experience (not at CM but in Australia) as a foreigner myself, it's either a passport or international driver's license. Foreign ID cards and foreign driver's licenses are usually not accepted unless the person that's checking it is in a good mood...
But from what I've read somewhere, he had his international driver's license with him that night.

 

[mussopossum]

From experience (not at CM but in Australia) as a foreigner myself, it's either a passport or international driver's license. Foreign ID cards and foreign driver's licenses are usually not accepted unless the person that's checking it is in a good mood...
But from what I've read somewhere, he had his international driver's license with him that night.

Yep correct, but it is interesting CM is quoting Australian law and refering a patron to the liquor and gaming site and quoting that the only ID they can accept at CM is a passport for a foreigner (as per teh strict NSW Liquor and Gaming laws) This was based on a review on Google by a disgruntled former guest of Cheeky Monkeys who appeared to have had to show his passport for dinner.

 

[Matlock]

Funny, though, that they have not requested CCTV or dashcam vid from Massinger Street or Lawson Street or any of the other streets that head toward the lighthouse or Tallow Beach or Byron Beach.

As you say, they might have quite a few pieces of footage from various areas/houses/vehicles by now ... or not.

I have often wondered if the dashcam vid they have asked for, from Tennyson and Jonson Sts, is more about vehicles on the road around there at the time - or shortly thereafter - than it is about Theo himself. Theo stopping to speak with someone who was sitting in a vehicle, a vehicle following him, a vehicle going along the same route as him.

Yes it still seems weird that they are only asking for Tennyson but no other streets. I thought perhaps that they may have footage from other streets but that makes no sense when you think about it because why would they have been handed in enough footage from say a street like Carlyle St. Which would not necessarily have any more commercial properties with cameras than Tennyson St. would? I still think that he Probably turned off Kingsley and went down Tennyson. Do any locals on this forum know what's down that track at the end of Tennyson? It also seems unlikely that someone could have followed him from CM and done something to him because they would have had to follow him for about an hour without him knowing because he made that normal sounding message/phone call (I can't remember which) about an hour after he left CM. So he must have reached where he planned to go and was relaxed enough to make that call, and did not feel threatened at that point. So if anyone had followed him from CM it would have to have been in a car because you can't follow someone for an hour hiding behind trees etc. But like some of the other posts here it looks like he could have been ejected from CM for hardly anything and had not necessarily made any enemies there in the first place.

 

[katydid23]

It is so sad that he had been on his backpacking adventure for many months already. Just days away from returning hime and he goes missing?

He had successfully navigated this journey for 6 months, with no major mishaps. Why now? What happened? I don't get it.

 

[Karinna]

Yes it still seems weird that they are only asking for Tennyson but no other streets. I thought perhaps that they may have footage from other streets but that makes no sense when you think about it because why would they have been handed in enough footage from say a street like Carlyle St. Which would not necessarily have any more commercial properties with cameras than Tennyson St. would? I still think that he Probably turned off Kingsley and went down Tennyson. Do any locals on this forum know what's down that track at the end of Tennyson? It also seems unlikely that someone could have followed him from CM and done something to him because they would have had to follow him for about an hour without him knowing because he made that normal sounding message/phone call (I can't remember which) about an hour after he left CM. So he must have reached where he planned to go and was relaxed enough to make that call, and did not feel threatened at that point. So if anyone had followed him from CM it would have to have been in a car because you can't follow someone for an hour hiding behind trees etc. But like some of the other posts here it looks like he could have been ejected from CM for hardly anything and had not necessarily made any enemies there in the first place.

BBM, But is there any way to know it was actually TH using his phone at a certain time after leaving CM?
Perpetrators in other crime cases have used a victim's phone to make it seem a victim has been using their phone when they actually haven't.
At what time was TH actually last seen by anyone that night to be okay?

 

[Matlock]

BBM, But is there any way to know it was actually TH using his phone at a certain time after leaving CM?
Perpetrators in other crime cases have used a victim's phone to make it seem a victim has been using their phone when they actually haven't.
At what time was TH actually last seen by anyone that night to be okay?

I thought that at one stage but he talked about very specific things about his father's band I think. In other cases if someone used their phone it would be more generalised like 'I'm fine, having a good time' etc.

 

[Karinna]

It is so sad that he had been on his backpacking adventure for many months already. Just days away from returning hime and he goes missing?

He had successfully navigated this journey for 6 months, with no major mishaps. Why now? What happened? I don't get it.

I am not up to speed on this case but have read of some of the circumstances surrounding TH's disappearance.
Agree about why this happened just before he was to be going home?
He wasn't actually meant to be in BB for longer than a couple of days was he?
It's sad IMO he had no one else that he travelled with to watch out for him. Like after being kicked out of the CM that a friend didn't go out there to be with him to see he would be okay.
He was only very young to be in a foreign country by himself IMO.

 

[Matlock]

It also seems a big coincedence that he had been here for 8 months and was due to return the very next week. Was there some news from home he was upset about or did he not want to face something when he got back?

 

[Karinna]

I thought that at one stage but he talked about very specific things about his father's band I think. In other cases if someone used their phone it would be more generalised like 'I'm fine, having a good time' etc.

Thanks for clarifying. But a perp. could of had the phone and read TH's previous messages to get the gist of what his conversations were about to family etc. I guess it depends but just another theory.