Detectives from the Crime and Intelligence Command are hoping a Queensland Government reward increase to $500,000 will bring in new information to assist police investigations into the disappearance and suspected murder of Marc Kristian Mietus in January 2000.
Mr Marc Mietus, then aged 21, was last seen alive on January 26, 2000 by friends at 143 Booyal Dallarnil Road, Booyal.
On January 6 2000, Mr Mietus moved from Melbourne to Brisbane in his white ute. Enroute to Queensland, Mr Mietus picked up a hitchhiker at a truck stop on the northern side of Gilgandra, New South Wales. The hitchhiker was travelling to his home situated at 143 Booyal Dallarnil Road, Booyal.
The two men arrived at the property the following day and Mr Mietus moved into in a caravan at the 44 hectare property at Booyal – nineteen days prior to his disappearance. There were a number of people staying in caravans and makeshift homes on the property at the time.
Between January 7 and January 26, it has been established that Mr Mietus travelled from Booyal to Brisbane on numerous occasions, sometimes staying overnight with friends in Brisbane.
On January 18, 2000, at about 11.30am, Mr Mietus stopped at the Shell service station on the Bruce Highway Gympie and refuelled his ute. With no money to pay for fuel, he left his mobile phone, Victorian drivers' licence and the contact details of his father as security. He advised staff he was traveling to Hervey Bay and would return to pay and collect his property.
A witness recalled a person seated in the passenger seat of the ute who did not exit the vehicle. The person is described as approximately 30-years-old with shoulder length long dark hair.
Later that same day, Mr Mietus traded his ute on a 1987 red and white Honda XL 250 trail motorcycle with Queensland registration ST 333. The trade occurred at Moorooka Yamaha, Ipswich Road, Brisbane.
In the early hours of January 26, Mr Mietus attended a friends address in Brisbane, quickly packing his belongings and leaving straight away on his motorcycle.
At 2.45am, police spoke to Mr Mietus at the Matilda service station, situated just off the Bruce Highway south of Gympie. This was the last confirmed interaction he had with police.
At about 6.30am, Mr Mietus arrived back at the Booyal property where he had been residing in the caravan. It has been reported that Mr Mietus was distant and his speech disjointed. When asked for his rent payment, he stated he needed to call his friend to get money.
Mr Mietus left the property on his motorcycle and travelled to the Booyal Roadhouse situated on the Bruce Highway, Booyal. This is only 1.5 kilometres from the property. At about 10.00am he made three calls to a landline number to a person known to Police in Brisbane. This is the last confirmed phone call made by Mr Mietus.
Mr Mietus then returned to the property on his motorcycle, advising other people at the location his friend would collect him and returned to his caravan. This was the last confirmed sighting of Mr Mietus.
The Homicide Cold Case Investigation Team have reviewed the case as part of the Cold Case Project. Over 200 inquiries have been conducted and 104 statements obtained. All previously identified witnesses and persons of interest are being re-interviewed and commencing tomorrow, a search will be conducted of the 44 hectare property at Booyal with the assistance of local police and members of the State Emergency Service, with the hope of identifying further evidence.
Detective Senior Sergeant Tara Kentwell from the Cold Case Investigation Team said following a review by Detectives, we believe that there are people who know what happened to Mr Mietus.
"Police would like to speak with the man seen in a white Ford utility with Victorian registration CNS 194 with Marc on January 18 2000 at about 11:30am at the Shell Service station on the Bruce Highway in Gympie or anyone who has information," Detective Senior Sergeant Kentwell said.
"We are appealing for any person who observed or knows anyone in the Booyal Childers area in 2000 who owned or drove a Brown XD Ford sedan with a dull alloy bull bar and standard wheels to come forward.
"A $500,000 reward is in place for information that may lead to the conviction of the person or persons responsible for Marc's disappearance. Any information no matter how small or insignificant it may seem, could be the key to bringing closure for his family.
"Anyone with knowledge of Marc's movements at the Booyal Roadhouse using the pay phone on January 26 2000 or who may have information relating to his disappearance, is urged to contact police."
Mr Mietus' father, Kris Mietus, is urging anyone with information to come forward and give closure to his family.
"24 years of not knowing anything is a really emotional stretch of the family," Kris Mietus said.
"There must be someone out there that knows something about this case, someone knows what happened to my son.
"We would like the people who are response to be brought to justice, we know we will never get him back but we hope this will bring in new information and give our family closure."
An initial reward of $250,000 was announced in 2015, however the reward amount has been increased to $500,000 from today.
The $500,000 Queensland Government Reward is for information which leads to the apprehension and conviction of the person or persons responsible for this murder. The Government reward further offers an opportunity for indemnity against prosecution for any accomplice, not being the person who actually committed the murder, who first gives such information.
If you have information for police, contact Policelink by providing information using the online suspicious activity form 24hrs per day at www.police.qld.gov.au/reporting.
Report crime information anonymously via Crime Stoppers. Call 1800 333 000 or report online at www.crimestoppersqld.com.au.
