To have a loved one slip out of your life without an explanation or a trace must be relentless torture.
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A missing person case leaves family, friends and the community without an opportunity for closure.
They are left wondering what happened and sometimes they never receive the answers they’re looking for.
This week is Missing Persons Week. It’s an annual reminder of various missing person cases around the state, with NSW Police hopeful of coming up with fresh leads or information to help solve some of these mysteries.
“The effect of missing persons on the whole community, families and friends, and of course the missing persons themselves, can be both profound and multi-faceted,” Assistant Commissioner Peter Barrie said at the campaign launch on Sunday.
“More often than not people are reported missing by a family member – and the subsequent uncertainty surrounding the whereabouts and safety of their loved one can be a very traumatic experience.
“In fact, research reveals that for every missing person reported to police, at least 12 other people are affected, whether it’s emotionally, physically, psychologically or financially.
“In 2015, more than 11,200 people were reported missing in NSW, and while most of them were located safely, 98 remain missing.”
There is no shortage of missing person cases in the Hunter. The latest is 19-year-old Cessnock man Dylan Dickie (pictured right), who hasn’t been seen by friends or family since mid June.
During a search of state forest about 20km south-west of Cessnock, they found Mr Dickie’s motorbike, helmet and gloves, but that’s where trail went cold. Police have renewed calls for information about his whereabouts this week.
Other missing persons from across the Hunter include Muswellbrook man Danny See, missing since January, 2015, Muswellbrook woman Carly McBride, missing since September, 2014, and Nikolce Veljanovski, who was last seen on a bus at Rutherford in June, 2014.
All of these missing people have loved ones who would understandably be struggling with the impact of these disappearances.
If you have any information that could help police with their investigations, call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
