WA Government offers $500k reward in bid to find out what happened to hundreds of ‘long-term missing’ people

The mysterious disappearances of six young men amid swirling rumours about the bikie-controlled northern drug trade has sparked an offer of massive rewards for clues about what happened to hundreds of “long-term missing” people. The WA Government has put $500,000 on the table in the hopes the money will loosen lips and generate fresh leads in the cases of 361 West Australians who have vanished over the past seven decades. Their fates remain unknown because bodies have never been found and no charges have ever been laid. The new rewards are available from next month. The decision to offer cash incentives was made after the sudden disappearances of Wesley Lockyer, Jayo Rivers, Wylie Oscar, Zane Stevens, Clinton Lockyer and Brenton Shar over the past three years. Three of the men vanished within 10 days of each other. Police are adamant there is no evidence of criminality, but the families believe otherwise. Followers of the cases have pointed to an entrenched drug syndicate that underpins the North West’s booming meth and cannabis trade. Many of the missing men had common associates linked to the cartel. The first of the six men to go missing was 27-year-old Jeremiah “Jayo” Rivers, who was last seen on October 18, 2021. Originally from the east Kimberley community of Warmun, the final sighting of Mr Rivers was at a campsite in Wippo Creek, near the Queensland town of Noccundra. A coronial inquest into his disappearance was told the hunting and fishing trip he was on with a group of mates was actually a drug mission. The court heard evidence that Mr Rivers was killed when he realised the true nature of the trip — to sell cannabis in Top End Indigenous communities — but the coroner was unable to substantiate the claim. Wesley Lockyer was last seen around 6am on October 24, 2022, as he left his home in the Jinparinya Aboriginal Community, about 30km from Port Hedland. Police believe he was under the influence of drugs and died after wandering off, but his family thinks that is unlikely because Mr Lockyer was an experienced bush ranger. A week later, Clinton Lockyer, a relative of Wesley’s, vanished. The 30-year-old was last seen in the early hours of November 1 in Roebourne. Three days after that, Wylie Oscar’s Toyota LandCruiser was found with two flat tyres north of Fitzroy Crossing. The experienced bushman, 22, had been in Broome visiting family and has not been seen since. Close to 18 months passed before the next disappearance. Zane Stevens, 21, was last seen in Broome around 3am on April 27 of this year. His vehicle was found bogged in mud flats at Coconut Wells, a short drive north of the tourist town. Five days after Mr Stevens vanished, 37-year-old Brenton Shar from Geraldton went missing. He was last seen at the Mid West town’s marina. A police search uncovered a pair of shorts believed to belong to him at Midalia beach. Mr Shar’s partner, who declined to be named, urged members of the public to come forward with information. “That’s all we want, to bring Brenton home,” she said “If anyone knows any information that will lead to finding Brenton, please don’t be scared. Come forward and give that information to police.” Wylie Oscar’s aunt, June, said the reward meant hope. “Issuing the reward for information means the case is still open and we are all still looking and hoping for answers,” she said. “The family haven’t given up. People will hopefully come forward with genuine information.” A person is considered “long-term missing” when they have not been seen for more than 90 days and there is no ready evidence that they met with foul play. “Families of missing people not only have to live with incredible trauma and loss but with the ‘not knowing’,” WA Police Minister Paul Papalia said. “This new reward provides half-a-million reasons for someone in the community with vital information to come forward. “Each of these unsolved cases are just as important as the next and any detail, no matter how small, could be the key to solving them.” Kimberley MLA Divina D’Anna said it was impossible to imagine how the families of the six missing men felt “not knowing what happened to their loved ones and what the future holds”. “We will continue to walk alongside the community in their grief and our Government will continue to provide the WA Police Force with the necessary tools to find answers,” she said. The $500,000 reward for information leading to solving long-term missing cases is separate to the $1 million incentive to help solve unsolved murders and suspicious disappearances. Anyone with information can call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. The West Australian men who suddenly disappeared over the past three years Wesley LOCKYER, 31 • Missing 24/10/22 • Last seen at 6am at his home in the Jinparinya Aboriginal Community, about 30 kilometres from Port Hedland, • Heard yelling prior to his disappearance that he was being blamed for something he didn’t do. Wylie OSCAR, 22 • Missing 4/11/22 • Drove off from Junjuwa Aboriginal Community, on the outskirts of Fitzroy Crossing, after a disagreement with family • His red Toyota Landcruiser located with 2 flat tyres north of Fitzroy Crossing Zane STEVENS, 21 • Missing 27/04/24 • Last seen Broome at 3am • Vehicle found bogged in mud flats at Coconut Wells Brenton SHAR, 37 • Missing 2/05/24 • Last seen at the Geraldton marina • A pair of shorts believed to belong to him were found in the groyne area of Midalia Beach Jeremiah ‘Jayo’ Rivers, 27 • Missing October 18 2021 • From the East Kimberley Indigenous community of Warmun but last seen at a campsite in Wippo Creek, near the Queensland town of Noccundra • Queensland coroner found he likely met foul play while on a fishing and hunting trip with several others Clinton LOCKYER , 30 • Missing 01/11/22 • Last seen early hours of the morning in Roebourne.