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.

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.

Police believe he may have been shot dead after telling a friend he feared for his life.

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.

She said it was the same creek where police divers had found the body of their missing cousin Selwyn Malayta, 48, in September 2022.

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.