Theo Hayez's family rubbish theory he fell off a cliff into the ocean

Theo Hayez DIDN’T drown: Belgian backpacker’s family rubbish police theory the 19-year-old stumbled to the Byron Bay lighthouse and plunged off a cliff into the ocean

  • Theo Hayez was last seen leaving the Cheeky Monkey’s bar in Byron Bay in May
  • Data from his phone tracked him near Cape Byron before his signal shut off
  • Police presented the theory he fell off the cliff at Byron lighthouse and drowned 
  • His family don’t believe them, and say Theo was not alone when he vanished

The family of missing Belgian backpacker Theo Hayez have rubbished a police theory that the teenager fell off the cliff at the Byron Bay lighthouse and drowned.

The 19-year-old disappeared after leaving the Cheeky Monkey nightclub in Byron Bay six months ago and has not been seen since.

Police presented the family with a theory that Theo had fallen into the water near where his last phone signal was received at Tallows Beach and drowned.

Theo’s godfather Jean-Philippe Pector told the ABC that the family didn’t believe investigator’s theory.

Theo Hayez disappeared on May 31 after leaving Cheeky Monkeys nightclub

Police presented the family with the theory that Theo had fallen off the cliff near Byron Bay lighthouse and drowned after his last phone signal was received at nearby Tallows Beach

‘We believe that scenario is not likely, especially the fact that Theo would have been alone, without meeting anyone,’ Mr Pector said.

Mr Pector said the family still have many more unanswered questions about Theo’s disappearance and have yet to hear anything from the coroner. 

‘It doesn’t become easier for any of us,’ he said. ‘In fact, the longer we stay with all the questions that the police investigation has left unanswered, the heavier it gets mentally.’

Theo’s family believe that he has not alone on the night of his disappearance, and have urged for anyone with any information on Theo to come forward.

Theo was last seen on CCTV footage about 15 minutes walk from his hostel but was never seen again.

The local community rallied around his family in support and joined police in an extensive search of bushland, air, and sea.

Theo’s family believe he was not alone on the night of his disappearance. Pictured: Theo with his girlfriend

Police and volunteers searched for Theo in the months after his disappearance before the search was disbanded in September

In September, the search came to an official close when the case was handed to the New South Wales coroner. 

Initially, his final movements were isolated to near the Byron Bay lighthouse where his phone let out its final ping.  

Earlier this month, The Australian released a podcast called the Lighthouse uncovering the case’s details. 

Contrary to what investigators first believed, it revealed that Theo had travelled in the opposite direction to his hostel.

Google Timeline logs showed Theo left the bar and walked away from the main street of town before turning from Johnson St into a dark, quiet, residential area.  

Theo’s phone data revealed his movements after leaving Cheeky Monkeys, where he made his way through dense bushland to the northern end of Tallows Beach before his signal switched off

He continued through a street into bushland then up to the northern end of Tallow beach beneath the cliff under the lighthouse before his GPS signal shut off.

Since his last known route has been unearthed, it has generated fresh inquiries into potential witnesses who were on the beach that night. 

Private investigator Ken Gamble, who works with Theo’s family pro-bono, is trying to track a homeless man seen in the area that night that he would like to speak to. 

The mystery has generated several theories, including whether Theo was the victim of a serial killer or had run away to join a cult. 

According to the Australian Institute of Criminology, over 2008-2015 there was an average of 38,159 missing persons reports every year. 

Ninety-eight per cent of people are found alive, but research indicates each case directly impacts at least 12 people.

THE TIMELINE OF THEO HAYEZ’S DISAPPEARANCE

May 31st 7.45pm: Theo Hayez and an unnamed friend were caught on CCTV camera at a local bottle shop in Byron Bay.

May 31st 11pm: The last confirmed sighting of Hayez. He was spotted leaving the Cheeky Monkey bar and appeared to be heading in the direction of the WakeUp! Backpacker hostel where he was staying.

June 1st AM: The last confirmed WhatsApp message was sent from Theo’s phone.

June 1st 1:42pm: Theo’s phone pinged for the last time.

June 6th: Theo was reported missing to local police .

June 9th: Police conducted a major land, sea and air search in the Byron Bay area with the assistance of rescue officers, the State Emergency Service, a lifesaver helicopter and lifesavers.

June 10th: Locals and other backpackers joined in the search for Theo.

June 10th-June 16th: SES crews, the dog squad, lifeguards, local volunteers and police are continuing to search the Byron Bay headlands, east and north of the town, as well as beaches and swamps. 

June 16th: Theo’s mother Vinciane Delforge, told a French broadcaster in Belgium she is holding out hope her son is safe and well, but said his disappearance is entirely out of character.

June 17th: Theo’s father Laurent Hayez travels to Byron Bay to help search for his son Theo. He makes an emotional plea asking Australia to keep looking for his son and vows to stay in the country until he is found.

He says he hopes WhatsApp will cooperate with police to decode the messages that Theo last sent – a feat, he says, which could change the course of the search. 

Police confess they are still ‘baffled’ by the case, and are keeping all lines of inquiry open.

Homicide detectives join in on the search for Theo.

July 3rd:  NSW Police announce the full-scale search for the teenager had been called off, but investigations are ongoing.

July 12th: Theo’s heartbroken father flies home. 

July 17th: Top forensic psychologist Tim Watson-Munro says believes Theo could have been the victim of an unknown serial killer, along with two 20-year-old backpackers who went missing on the NSW north coast months prior.

July 18th: Theo’s parents reveal they believe he is still alive and are holding out hope he is in a commune. 

August: A dedicated group of Byron Bay locals have brought in cadaver dogs to search for missing Belgian tourist Theo Hayez.

The dogs and their handlers scoured bushland in the Arakwal National Park including Tallow Beach.

September: Theo’s father Laurent Hayez arrives back in Australia to continue his search for his son.

September 16th: Police call off the search for Theo and refer his case to the coroner.

October 13th: Theo’s family confirm a cap found in dense bushland near to where the missing backpacker’s phone last ‘pinged’ belonged to him. 

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