Still Missing New Zealand - Michael Zhao-Beckenridge, 11, taken by John Beckenridge, *poss. murder/suicide* Invercargill, 13 March 2015 *Coroners hearing 2023*

[charliethecat]

Here is the latest from Stuff, including that there will be a Coroner's inquest 22/5/23 - 3/6/23.

Baffling case of missing boy and stepdad could end in coroner ruling them dead

Michael Zhao-Beckenridge and his stepfather went missing eight years ago. Now it's up to a coroner to decide if the pair are dead or alive.

www.stuff.co.nz

 

[JerseyGirl]

Coroner to decide if man and stepson who disappeared in 2015 are dead or alive

Michael Zhao and John Beckenridge went missing in 2015 and their bodies were never found.

www.nzherald.co.nz

 

[K_i_w_i]

The Coroners hearing commenced this week. A few recent articles here:

Mystery Beckenridge missing persons case: Coroner to decide if boy, stepfather likely dead

Mike’s desperate pleas to be reunited with his stepfather revealed

Missing boy was ‘out of breath, panicky’ the day he disappeared

Woman says she saw missing pair overseas

 

[Danaya]

How could a car go over a cliff at a high speed with nobody behind the wheel? Brick on the gas pedal? Is it possible they weren't fastened in and both flew out of the car on impact? Maybe that's why their bodies weren't in the vehicle.

 

[ifindedout]

A similar case in some ways from the Dominican Republic back in 2019, a big difference being that both victims were recovered, one in the ocean deceased, the other on land mortally injured and unconscious:

Found Deceased - Dominican Republic - Orlando Moore & Portia Ravenelle, from NY on vacation, April 2019

New York couple disappears during vacation in the Dominican Republic Family and friends are desperately searching for Orlando Moore and Portia Ravenelle, who left for the island from Newark Liberty International Airport on March 23. They were supposed to return March 27 but never did, according...

www.websleuths.com

 

[Unalienable Rights]

New evidence as coroner resumes case of missing boy, stepfather

A decade ago, Mike Zhao-Beckenridge vanished with his stepfather, John Beckenridge. Their car was found at the bottom of a near 90-metre Southland cliff, but no bodies were ever recovered.

www.1news.co.nz

April 20, 2025

A coroner's hearing was adjourned in 2023 after two weeks of evidence and will resume on Tuesday with fresh evidence from five new witnesses.

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The new information to be presented at the continuation of the trial on Tuesday includes a further report from an expert who had examined discharged items at the Caitlin's cliff top.

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Two vastly different theories will be developed further at the hearing next week before the coroner decides if a full inquest will determine if the pair are dead, or alive and in hiding.

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See more in linked article.