Gavin STUBBS
Gavin STUBBS
In the early hours of March 26, 1989, it is believed 19-year-old apprentice butcher Gavin Stubbs was abducted by several men outside a pizza bar on Hannan Street, Kalgoorlie WA, then tied up and violently beaten before being dumped in a mine shaft near Menzies. His remains were never found. Bunbury truck driver Allan David Thompson was convicted of wilful murder in 1998 in relation to the case, but refused to name his accomplices — two other men are thought to have been involved.
Police say the parents of missing man Gavin Stubbs were devastated to hear that human remains found near the Goldfields town of Menzies could be those of their son.
A bush grave was found about 32 kilometres north of Menzies by a mine worker walking about 100 metres off a truck stop last Wednesday.
There was speculation it could be Mr Stubbs who disappeared in 1989.
A man was jailed after confessing to murdering Mr Stubbs and dumping his body down a mine shaft, but his body has never been found.
Detective Senior Sergeant Peter Foley says the media coverage has been difficult for Mr Stubbs' family.
"Obviously they're distressed, it's a long time since their son went missing," he said.
"Emotions are brought to the surface again and obviously issues they've dealt with in the past get brought up and obviously it's distressing for the family and extended family as a whole.
"Our concern is we don't wish to raise the hopes of the family, it certainly may not be their son."
(edited)
WA Police are seeking information to try and reunite missing people with their loved ones this National Missing Persons Week, including several notable cases from the Goldfields dating back as far as 1989.
Kalgoorlie detectives’ latest long-term missing person case was closed in January when the remains of 38-year-old Samuel Mark Walsh, or Enoch Samuel Wright, who killed his mother in 2005 and escaped from a Claremont care facility in 2014, were found.
“That was the most prominent case we were dealing with and we had been searching for him for many years,” Detective Senior Sergeant Jason Beesley said.
A member of the public found the remains in a car in bushland near the Karalee Rocks Pumping Station off the Great Eastern Highway.
Missing persons unit Det-Sgt Stephen Perejmibida said the unit handled up to 30 cases a week.
“The overwhelming majority of these people are located quickly; however, an average of about six cases remain unsolved after 12 months,” he said.
“We encourage anyone with information on outstanding missing person cases to contact Crime Stoppers.
“Small pieces of information may seem insignificant in isolation; however, they may be crucial in the context of a broader investigation.”
In Kalgoorlie, the unit is continuing to investigate the following missing persons cases — in the early hours of March 26, 1989, it is believed 19-year-old apprentice butcher Gavin Stubbs was abducted by several men outside a pizza bar on Hannan Street, then tied up and violently beaten before being dumped in a mine shaft near Menzies.
His remains were never found. Bunbury truck driver Allan David Thompson was convicted of wilful murder in 1998 in relation to the case, but refused to name his accomplices — two other men are thought to have been involved.