Linden Jeffery MALAYTA, 15 years of age, resided in, Ayr QLD with
his family. Linden was last seen on or about 18 March 2019 in the
Townsville area. Linden was reported missing to police on 6 April
2019 after he had failed to make contact with friends and family. To
date, no further contact has been received from Linden MALAYTA
Any member of the public with information which could assist Police
is asked to contact:
• Townsville Child Abuse Unit, Phone (07) 4759 9743;
Detectives investigating the disappearance and
suspected murder of Linden Malayta have received new
information.
The teenager was last seen in Ayr in March 2019.
Detectives have established a timeline in the lead-up to
Linden’s disappearance and believe Linden was last sighted in
the company of relatives and associates, travelling from
Townsville to Ayr on or about March 18, 2019.
Information received suggests an altercation occurred within the
group and a firearm was used, resulting in Linden’s death.
Detectives continue to investigate whether Linden’s death was
deliberate or accidental.
Child Protection Investigation Unit Officer in Charge Dave Miles
said an independent and reliable witness has provided
information regarding their last interaction with Linden before
his disappearance in 2019.
“During this interaction, Linden told the witness he was in fear
for his life, and he had ‘come to say goodbye’,” Senior Sergeant
Miles said.
“The witness urged Linden to speak to the police, but Linden
stated, ‘No one could help me now’.”
Detectives plan to examine a number of potential historic crime
scenes associated with this altercation, including homes of
relatives and associates Linden may have visited near the time
of his death.
“I would like to remind the community, there is a significant
reward of $500,000 for information leading to the identification
and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the
suspected murder of Linden, who was 15 years old when he
disappeared,” Senior Sergeant Miles said.
“We encourage anyone with knowledge or who may have witnessed
any incidents involving Linden, to come forward.
“If you are concerned about your safety or welfare, information
can be provided anonymously.
“It is important the community rallies together to bring Linden
home. Linden’s family has not given up hope and deserves
answers. Police will continue to investigate, to find those
answers for Linden’s loved ones,” Senior Sergeant Miles said.
Queensland Police allege Indigenous teen Linden Malayta, missing for
four years, was shot
A homicide investigation into the suspected murder of
Linden Malayta, an Indigenous teenager missing for more than four
years, has progressed with detectives alleging he was shot.
Queensland Police said they were continuing to
investigate whether Linden's death was deliberate or accidental.
He was last seen in Ayr, a small cane farming town
south of Townsville, in March 2019.
He was 15 years old at the time.
Police did not publicly raise the alarm about
Linden's disappearance until January 2023.
In the months since the investigation was launched,
Queensland Police said detectives had established a timeline in the
lead-up to Linden's disappearance and believed he was last sighted
in the company of relatives and associates, travelling from Ayr to
Townsville, on or about March 18, 2019.
In a statement Queensland Police said they had been
told an altercation occurred within that group and a firearm was
used, resulting in Linden's death.
"Detectives continue to investigate whether Linden's
death was deliberate or accidental," the statement said.
Child Protection Investigation Unit officer in charge
Dave Miles, who has oversight of the investigation, said an
independent and reliable witness provided information regarding
their last interaction with Linden before his disappearance.
"During this interaction Linden told the witness he
was in fear for his life and he had 'come to say goodbye'," Senior
Sergeant Miles said.
"The witness urged Linden to speak to the police,
but Linden stated 'no one could help me now'."
Initial investigation abandoned
More than ten witnesses have provided police with
information about Linden since the first public appeal was made.
There is no indication of where his body may be or
any description of the firearm involved in the alleged shooting.
Senior Sergeant Dave Miles said detectives
would examine a number of potential historic crime scenes associated
with the altercation, including homes of relatives and associates
Linden may have visited near the time of his death.
Linden was reported as a missing person in April
2019, but those investigations were abandoned.
"Ultimately the family in this case said 'he has
travelled up to Townsville with family, he actually isn't
missing'," Senior Sergeant Miles said.
It was not until two years later when police were
contacted "by another interested party" about Linden when police
considered him to be missing.
A $500,000 reward for information leading to the
identification and conviction of the person or persons responsible
for Linden's suspected murder remains available.
"There is someone out there that has a direct
knowledge of what happened to Linden," Senior Sergeant Miles said.
"If you are concerned about your safety or
welfare information can be provided anonymously.
"It is important the community rallies together
to bring Linden home. Linden's family has not given up hope and
deserves answers.
"Police will continue to investigate, to find those
answers for Linden's loved ones."
Uncle of suspected murder victim Linden Malayta missing, family
desperate for answers
The mum of suspected murder victim Linden Malayta fears his uncle
may have also met foul play after going missing three months ago
from the same North Queensland town.
WARNING: Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander readers are advised that this article contains
an image of a person who has died.
The mum of suspected murder victim Linden Malayta fears his uncle
may have also met foul play after going missing three months ago
from the same North Queensland town.
Catherine Malayta is still desperately searching for answers to what
happened to her teenage son Linden after he vanished from Ayr five
years ago.
Ms Malayta said she felt like the nightmare was repeating itself
when her brother Phillip Malayta, 42, went missing from Ayr three
months ago.
Police said he was last seen driving a green Toyota Avalon sedan
near Rita Island Road, Jarvisfield, on the morning of Sunday,
December 10, 2023.
That afternoon, the vehicle was recovered by police along Richard
Street, Ayr.
Police and SES volunteers conducted an extensive land search of Rita
Island Road. Queensland Fire and Emergency Services RPAS drone
pilots joined the Townsville PolAIR helicopter R521 as they covered
the area from the skies.
Ms Malayta said after the ordeal their family went through with
Linden’s disappearance, they didn’t think Phillip would just leave
town without at least letting them know.
“It’s out of character,” she said.
“He was excited about spending Christmas and New Year’s with the
family then no calls, nothing. It was so weird.
“Phillip also has a heart murmur and needs to take his medication.
“I’ve been so worried. I pray every night for him to come home.”
Ms Malayta said it was hard to shake the fear that her brother may
have met with foul play, a feeling that only intensified when police
were tipped off to search Plantation Creek.
Police divers searched it again, this time for Phillip, in January
2024 but found no items of interest that could lead to his
whereabouts.
“I went down to the creek to have a look but I couldn’t go further
than the hill because I felt so uncomfortable — that place just felt
evil,” she said.
She’s calling for anyone who may have information about Phillips’s
whereabouts to come forward with what they know.
“If Phillip’s out there, we just want him to come home or give us a
call to let us know he’s okay,” Ms Malayta said.
Phillip is described as First Nations. He is around 165cm tall, with
a proportionate build, brown eyes, and black hair.
Anyone with information that may assist in the investigation and
efforts to find Phillip is urged to contact police.
A $500,000 reward was issued last March for information leading to
the identification and conviction of the person or persons
responsible for the suspected murder of Linden Malayta.
No arrests have been made in relation to either of these cases.
