Plea for fresh leads on Mackay man Wayne Pedro Morseu, who disappeared six weeks ago
Police in a tropical Queensland city have issued an appeal for information after being left with no leads in the search for a much-loved local man who disappeared six weeks ago.
Police say Mackay resident Wayne Pedro Morseu, 71, was reported missing by his family on November 10 but he actually went missing a few weeks ago.
“Nobody saw him from mid to late October… [so] We are treating this as suspicious until we know otherwise,” said Detective Superintendent Darrin Shadlow, regional crime coordinator.
Shadlow declined to say he expected the investigation to turn into a murder case, but said police had no reason to suspect Morseu had deliberately cut off contact with people he knew.
“We’re obviously very hopeful that Mr. Morseu will make it through the door and back to his family,” Shadlow said.
“It is very out of character for Mr. Morseu not to communicate with his family; he usually did so every few weeks.
“He is a family-oriented man… [who] He worked on the railroad for many years, so he has a lot of friends and family in the area. They are concerned for his welfare.
“He didn’t have a car, he walked most of the places he went… [and] He had no medical conditions that we knew of that would greatly hinder him.
Mackay police set up two crime scenes on Friday – three weeks after Morseu was reported missing – at a property on River Street near the Pioneer River and at Morseu’s home on Griffin Street.
Police declared the crime scene on Griffin Street after discovering someone had moved into the home after Morseu’s disappearance, Shadlow said. They were no longer investigating the property on River Street.
“Forensic examinations are still being conducted at the residence on Griffin Street…this has been going on for several days,” Shadlow said.
Shadlow appealed for anyone with information regarding Morseu’s whereabouts or information that could be linked to his disappearance to contact police.
“No matter how minor you think it is, please contact Crime Stoppers or your local police,” he said.
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