Detectives have identified and obtained DNA from family members of two men missing for over 40 years after a boat capsized of Newcastle.
In 2023, NSW Police received a submission from the National DNA program, from a 48-year-old woman requesting to submit her DNA.
Inquiries conducted by detectives attached to the Missing Persons registry believe that the woman was the daughter of one of two men who went missing during a boat accident off Newcastle in 1983.
At the time, Newcastle Police investigated the accident with both air and sea searches; however, the men – aged 37 and 27 - were not located, and the matter was referred to the Coroner.
Upon obtaining and reviewing the Coronial brief, it was revealed the two men - both Vietnamese nationals living in Sydney with their families - boarded the vessel 'Wyuna' on Sunday 10 April 1983, to go deep sea fishing. The two men were the only people on board at the time.
The 'Wyuna' left via Newcastle Heads and headed out to sea off the Swansea Coast. During the evening, the vessel capsized and both men were never found.
The Coronial brief named the second man; however, no other identifying details were available.
Detectives spent months searching the police database and in May 2024 identified a likely family member of the second man, who has since provided a familial DNA sample.
The two men have now been added to the NSW Missing Persons database and the familial DNA of both relatives has been added to the DNA database in the hope of one day locating and identifying their remains.
Detective Inspector Ritchie Sim, Manager of the Missing Persons Registry, said all missing people deserve to be found and returned to their family.
"Our detectives don't give up when searching for missing people. We are always searching with the goal of reuniting families, providing them answers where possible, and helping them through the grieving process.
"For us it doesn't matter if a person went missing over 40 years ago or last week; they are still a person and deserve to be returned to their family." Det Insp Sim said.
"The role of familial DNA in this case can't be understated as it may be the key to finally putting another 40-year-old case to rest both for the families affected but also for the detectives that have stuck with it over the years."
"Missing person investigations are not criminal matters, and your DNA is not stored in any criminal or suspect data base. Your DNA will only be used to hopefully solve these cases and provide answers to your family.
"If you have reported a family member missing to police, and you have the Event number, I urge you to go to your local police station and provide your DNA if you haven't done so already. Your relationship with the missing person can be several generations apart." Det Insp Sim said.
"If you don't have an Event reference number, you can still help. You can provide your DNA to commercial databases such as Gedmatch and Familytree DNA. As long as you tick the option to release your DNA for law enforcement purposes, we can use your DNA and hopefully solve a mystery."
"Your relative may have already been found, we just don't know as yet, as we haven't been able to identify them until now. This technology and capability now gives us the best opportunity yet, to achieve this." Det Insp Sim said.
Missing Persons Week is an annual national campaign to raise awareness of the issues and impacts surrounding missing persons and runs between Monday Sunday 28 July and Saturday 3 August 2024.
This year's 'Always Searching' campaign focuses on the continuing efforts of police to solve missing persons investigations.
If you have been reported as missing it means that someone is concerned about your safety and welfare. It is not a crime to go missing. You should attend the nearest police station with identification so that Police can ascertain that you are safe and well.
For more information on the campaign visit www.missingpersons.gov.au
As inquiries continue, police are appealing for anyone with information that may assist investigators to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.
