Jack McLennan was last seen
on the night of 4 October 2024 at Ficks Crossing, Murgon QLD whilst
socialising with a friend.
Jack also had a phone
conversation with his sister Sydney on 4 October 2024 at 8:50 pm, however,
since this time, there has been no further contact from Jack to any member
of his family.
Anyone with information
which may assist in locating the whereabouts of Jack is urged to call Crime
Stoppers anonymously on 1800 333 000.
A search and rescue operation has commenced to locate a
27-year-old man missing from Murgon (Darling Downs) QLD since Friday,
October 4 and reported missing on Saturday, October 5.
Jack Mclennan (pictured) was last seen at Ficks Crossing just outside of
Murgon between 8pm and 10pm and has not been seen or heard from since.
He is described as Caucasian, approximately 185cm tall with light brown
hair, brown eyes, and last seen wearing a black t-shirt and dark shorts.
A broad search was conducted this afternoon at Ficks Crossing and
surrounding areas.
Local police will continue the search and rescue operation tomorrow
morning with the assistance of SES.
Police are appealing to Jack and anyone who has any information
regarding his whereabouts to come forward.
The search for Jack McLennan who went missing near Murgon
has been scaled back, as police continue to investigate the
circumstances surrounding his disappearance.
The 27-year-old Sunshine Coast man was last seen between 8pm and 10pm on
Friday, October 4 and hasn’t been seen or heard from since.
An air and land search operation, particularly west of Murgon, has been
unsuccessful in locating him and was scaled back on the weekend.
So far during searches, a hat and pair of shoes, believed to be owned by
Jack, have been located near Ficks Crossing and McAlister and McLucas
Streets, Murgon.
Police Dive Squad, Police dogs, SES volunteers, and other specialised
teams also joined the search.
Detectives from the Darling Downs Criminal Investigation Branch and
Homicide Investigation Unit have established Operation Whiskey Pocket.
Evidence continues to be analysed and evaluated against new information
that is received.
The QPS has advised the family and will continue to provide on any
updates.
Jack is described as Caucasian in appearance, approximately 185cm tall
with light brown hair, brown eyes, and was last seen wearing a black
t-shirt and dark shorts.
Anyone with information about Jack’s whereabouts is urged to immediately
contact police.
Nearby residents are being asked to continue checking their properties,
including any outbuildings and sheds, for signs of Jack.
Police are appealing to witnesses, particularly a person who camped
overnight in the Ficks Crossing area, to come forward.
It is believed this person was travelling in a dark coloured vehicle
with a roof top tent.
Investigators are also appealing for anyone who may have seen a person
walking along the Bunya Highway towards Wondai on October 4 around
10.40pm to contact police.
Investigations continue.
Family hopes for more clues into Queensland man Jack McLennan's
disappearance
Not knowing what happened to their son has turned life into a daily hell for
Kellie Moody and Ross McLennan.
Each day that passes since 27-year-old Jack McLennan was last seen near
Murgon, in Queensland's South Burnett, forces them to accept he may have
died by misadventure or foul play following an afternoon of drinking.
In the hours before his last confirmed sighting on the October long weekend
of 2024, police said Jack McLennan visited a bottle shop on Murgon's Lamb
Street before travelling to Ficks Crossing.
Ficks Crossing is a waterhole used for recreational fishing and kayaking
about 5 kilometres south of Murgon.
However, Jack McLennan's family has been told it was also an area known for
drug activity.
After accepting that their son might have been in the vicinity of drugs
before his disappearance, his parents hope new information might come to
light.
Police called off the active search about nine weeks ago and said that
evidence would continue "to be evaluated and analysed against new
information received".
Queensland Police said additional detectives would be sent to the South
Burnett area next week to work on the case.
Ross McLennan lives in Tasmania but said he spoke to his son every week
before he disappeared.
He said his son's closest friends had told him it was uncharacteristic for
the young man to find himself in a situation that might involve drugs.
"I emphasise I'm not saying Jack has gone there looking for that," Ross
McLennan said.
"This is a guy who didn't even smoke pot [marijuana] and only bought a few
beers from time to time."
The day he disappeared
On October 4, Jack McLennan left his vehicle, full of personal belongings,
in Murgon.
He had told his mother he had planned to move into her house near Kingaroy
that weekend.
Formerly a student of Mountain Creek State High on the Sunshine Coast, he
was most recently living in Goomeri, 24km east of Ficks Crossing.
"He was at a point where he was a bit heartbroken, and that's why we spoke
maybe five or seven times that day," Ms Moody said.
"I could tell he was on a bit of a downward spiral and he'd started drinking
at lunch, which wasn't like him at all.
"I just wish my beautiful boy had got the hell out of this place."
Previous media reports stated the 27-year-old was working in the fitness
industry and was spending the long weekend on an outdoor boys' getaway at
Ficks Crossing.
His parents have confirmed both these pieces of information were false and
that he had switched to working in the building industry in the previous few
months.
They believed he intended to travel to several locations the weekend he
disappeared and to arrive home on the Saturday.
Fearing the worst
Through their own investigations, Ross McLennan and Ms Moody believe their
son visited at least one house in Wondai after Ficks Crossing, potentially
as late as 2am.
This was despite Jack McLennan telling several people on the phone he was
tired and wanted to sleep around 9:30pm.
After spending the past three months scouring the surrounding bushland
believing their son may have become disorientated and lost, his parents now
fear his body is in a remote location.
Jack McLennan's shoes and hat were located shortly after his disappearance
and some key personal effects were later discovered in the Ferris Road area,
a back road between Ficks Crossing and Murgon.
"It's hard to fathom this is actually real,"
Ross McLennan said.
Case attracts attention
Queensland Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Deb Frecklington
confirmed she had personally reached out to Jack McLennan' mother, who lives
in her electorate.
"I can only imagine how stressful and worrying the past few months have been
for Jack's family, not knowing what has happened," Ms Frecklington said
"My thoughts are with Kellie and, like so many locals, I hope there can be a
breakthrough in Jack's disappearance."
The family has offered a $5,000 reward for information on Jack McLennan's
whereabouts.
The case has also attracted international attention.
An American YouTube channel with half a million subscribers featured Jack
McLennan's story last week.
Anyone with information about his disappearance has been urged to contact
Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or Police Link on 131 444.
Missing Man Spoke To Police
January 9, 2025 -
Southburnett.com
Missing man Jack McLennan visited Murgon Police Station on the afternoon of
the day he disappeared, police revealed on Thursday.
A police spokesperson said Jack attended a pre-arranged meeting at the
station about 2:00pm on October 4 in relation to a private matter.
No concerns were held for Jack at that time.
The spokesperson
said that for privacy reasons, police were unable to provide further
comments about the details of the meeting.
The 27-year-old was last seen between 8:00pm and 10:00pm on October 4,
travelling on foot in the Ficks Crossing area.
On Saturday, October 26, a mobile phone was located at Ficks Crossing Road.
Subsequent investigations into the phone have concluded there are no links
with the phone belonging to Jack.
The spokesperson said police were continuing to investigate multiple lines
of inquiries into Jack’s disappearance.
Evidence continued to be analysed and evaluated against new information and
police were continuing to communicate with Jack’s family.
Coroner's Court of Queensland investigating disappearance of Jack McLennan
The Coroners Court of Queensland has confirmed it is investigating the
disappearance of Goomeri resident Jack McLennan.
The 27-year-old was last seen between 8pm and 10pm on October 4 last year
at Ficks Crossing, a popular fishing spot near Murgon, about 260 kilometres
north-west of Brisbane.
"The deputy state coroner has carriage of the coronial investigation and, as
this matter is currently open and ongoing, no further information can be
provided at this time," a court spokesperson said.
The coroner will determine whether an inquest will be held after an
assessment of the information, but no date has been set for that decision.
Mr McLennan's parents, Kellie Moody and Ross McLennan, said they had mixed
feelings about the referral to the coroner.
"Earlier we were told it was positive if it reached that juncture because
they'd more thoroughly investigate things like foul play, but … we're not
overly confident," Ross McLennan said.
But the lawyer who successfully fought for an inquest into the disappearance
of 13-year-old Sunshine Coast boy Daniel Morcombe has urged them to see the
court's involvement as "as a good thing".
"Based on my experience with the coroner's office, they've certainly been
prepared to be objective and actually get or request further evidence when
required," Peter Boyce said.
"It's an independent body and an independent review."
Before he retired, Mr Boyce also represented the family of Kirra-Lea
McLoughlin, a Wolvi woman who was ruled by a coroner to have died at the
hands of her partner.
"[The process] can take considerable time, so the parents might have that
feeling not much is being done," Mr Boyce said.
"But behind the scenes often there's a lot being done."
Parents vow to continue search
Jack McLennan was living at Goomeri and working as a builder's labourer
before he went missing eight months ago.
Police have previously said that in the hours before his last confirmed
sighting on the October long weekend Mr McLennan attended Murgon police
station on a domestic matter, went to a bottle shop in the town and then
visited Ficks Crossing, 7km south-west.
His car, which was full of personal belongings, was left at Murgon.
Some of Mr McLennan's belongings, including a hat and shoes, were found
during a search involving police and State Emergency Service (SES)
volunteers.
Ms Moody and Ross McLennan have carried out their own searches and made
enquiries throughout the region.
They told the ABC they believe their son attended at least one house in
Wondai, about 8km south of Ficks Crossing.
The family has contacted Queensland Attorney-General Deb Frecklington and
Police Minister Dan Purdie to increase the reward for information about Mr
McLennan's case.
Ross McLennan said the family's efforts would continue.
"We're not going to leave any stone unturned — we're just going to keep
going," he said.
"It's a [rude] awakening, this whole world that we've been immersed into
now."
Anyone with information about Jack McLennan's disappearance has been urged
to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or Police Link on 131 444.
