Police pledge to investigate ‘every bit of information’ to solve 367 long-term missing people in WA

WA’s top homicide cop says her “heart goes out” to the families of the 367 people who vanished across the State as police pledge to investigate “every bit of information” related to their disappearances. A plea for information into WA’s growing missing person cases was made on Monday to mark the beginning of National Missing Persons Week — a nationwide campaign led by the Australian Federal Police and the national missing persons coordination centre. Detective Acting Inspector Jessica Securo, officer in charge of the homicide squad, reminded the public a $500,000 reward stands for anyone who provides information that leads to the location of a missing person. “No information is too small or irrelevant,” A/Insp. Securo said. “Someone out there would know a person who is missing and may have some information that is relevant, and I urge those people to contact crime stoppers and pass on that information.” When asked if police believe they can solve cases in the near future, A/Insp. Securo said, “I’d like to think so”. She added that technology is improving, giving investigators more opportunities to bring closure to families. “As you can imagine, someone who went missing 10, 20, 30 years ago may not have the same digital footprint that someone who went missing in the last year or two,” she said. “That lack of closure must be heartbreaking (for families), that’s why WA Police continue to investigate every bit of information that comes through. “Police are in frequent contact with families of missing persons — we provide investigative updates and liaise frequently with them.” WA Police have a dedicated missing persons team within the major crime division, who investigate long-term missing people. A long-term missing person is somebody who hasn’t been seen or heard from for more than 90 days. Of the 367 current missing persons police are investigating, it includes the disappearance of 21-year-old Zane Stevens, who is believed to have gone missing on foot after bogging his car in Marshlands near Coconut Wells, north of Broome. Another recent case is the vanishing of Daniel O’Meara, who disappeared one week before his 45th birthday about 16 months ago. Daniel’s father, Kevin, told The West he was hopeful his son would be located. “One of the things he wanted to do was celebrate his birthday with his family and friends, but (he couldn’t celebrate) because he never made it,” he said. Daniel was last seen leaving a friend’s Roleystone home driving a white silver Toyota Hilux utility about 11.30pm on March 9, 2024. His abandoned car was found by a hiker in the Monadnocks Conservation Park, near Mt Cook, 18 days later. His phone, wallet and bible were all found inside his vehicle. The $500,000 reward for information which leads to the solving of a long-term missing cases is separate to the $1 million reward for anybody who provides information that solves murders and suspicious disappearances.

Police pledge to investigate ‘every bit of information’ to solve 367 long-term missing people in WA

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