Brenton SHAR
Brenton SHAR
Specialist police divers have travelled to Geraldton to assist in the search for missing 37-year-old man Brenton Shar.
Mr Shar was last seen at his home address in Rangeway in the early hours of May 2 but was officially reported missing by family on May 10.
While a search effort has been ongoing since that time, police say a pair of shorts believed to belong to Mr Shar were found in the groyne area of Midalia Beach in Beresford by his partner, Kasey Burns.
Detective Sergeant Gareth Lewis said the black Champion shorts, while generic, matched the pair worn by Mr Shar as he left hospital for an injured finger on May 1.
He said the last known CCTV sighting of Mr Shar was in Geraldton on the same day.
He said there was "no evidence of criminality" in Mr Shar's case at this stage.
During a press conference, Ms Burns said Mr Shar usually kept in contact with her, by phone calls and texts, every day.
"Brenton, if you're watching, can you please contact Mum, Dad or me?" Ms Burns said.
"We all miss you and love you and want you to come home."
Ms Burns said Mr Shar had six children between the ages of one and 14, who were all worried for him.
Detective Sergeant Lewis said police had been concerned for Mr Shar's welfare since he was reported missing, and had now decided to search the water "as a line of enquiry".
"We're not a 100 per cent sure he's been in the water, but it seemed prudent to just check the water area to see if there's anything to find," he said.
"They [water police] are going to start with the shorts area, and then expand the search depending on the way the currents have been.
"We decided to do a further public announcement to get further information, and ask people to contact Crimestoppers."
Mr Shar's shorts, which were found wet and sandy, have been sent to Perth for analysis.
Mr Shar is described as about 179 centimetres tall, of medium build with brown eyes and short brown hair.
Anyone with information relating to the search or Mr Shar's disappearance should contact police on 131 444.
Shorts belonging to a missing WA father of six have been found at a beach just a few kilometres from his home, triggering a water search by specialist police divers.
Brenton Shar, 37, was last seen at his Rangeway home in Geraldton, 400km north of Perth, on May 1.
His family said it was highly unusual not to have heard from Shar, who usually calls and texts them “every day”.
“We all miss you and love you, and want you to come home,” loved ones said outside Geraldton Police Station on Wednesday.
“Your babies... are all worried for you. Can you contact somebody, please?”
Shar’s family — who have had an anxious three weeks in the dark — have appealed for information, saying they have “hope that he’s out there”.
Police revealed a pair of shorts that are believed to belong to Shar were found at Midalia Beach in nearby Beresford.
Specialist divers have been deployed to the area to search.
Shar is 179cm tall with a medium build and has brown eyes and short brown hair.
Anyone with information is urged to contact police.
July 9 2024
A pair of wet and sandy shorts found near a beach is the last sign of Geraldton father Brenton Shar.
The clothes, which contained his DNA, were found near a rock groyne on Midalia Beach in the suburb of Beresford by his partner Kasey Burns two weeks after he was last seen leaving his Rangeway home on May 1.
The 37-year-old father of six has not been seen since.
Two months on, his family have tearfully pleaded for anyone with information to contact police.
He was officially reported missing by his family on May 10.
Mr Shar's mother, Vivian, said her family just wanted answers.
"We need to know where he is and if he's OK," she said.
"We love him, miss him, and we just want him to come home to us.
"We want him to know the police are not after him, they're just trying to help him and help us find him."
Specialist police divers travelled to Geraldton in late May to assist in the search but did not find anything.
Ms Shar said there had been no activity in her son's bank account since his disappearance.
She said the community had been helping the family in the search.
She encouraged anyone with information to come forward.
"We haven't any idea [what happened], we don't know where he is," she said.
"Maybe someone will come forward and let us know something … or let the police know."
A Facebook post on the Mid West-Gascoyne District WA Police Force page appealing for information has been shared more than 250 times.
Ms Shar described her son as a kind-hearted man who loved animals and got along with everyone.
"He would say hello, have a conversation with them," she said.
"He'd try to help [people] when he could, help them out if they needed it.
"He's very much loved by me and Kasey and the family. We just want to see him again."
Mr Shar is described as about 179 centimetres tall, of medium build, with brown eyes and short brown hair.
Anyone with information relating to the search or Mr Shar's disappearance should contact police on 131 444.