Why the disappearance of Belgian backpacker Theo Hayez has the power to 'transform' other missing persons investigations - as judge calls for faster collaboration between Facebook and Google when someone vanishes
The mysterious disappearance of Belgian backpacker Theo Hayez could transform the way missing persons cases are handled, a leading judge has claimed.
The 18-year-old was in Australia on a working holiday visa when he was last seen leaving a bar in Byron Bay in northern New South Wales about 11pm on May 31, 2019.
Tracking data from his phone had pinpointed his movements into the next morning but NSW State Coroner Teresa O'Sullivan has said the process of obtaining the data was 'not straightforward'.
At a preliminary hearing into his disappearance on Friday, she called for a better 'joint protocol' between tech giants when people go missing.
Theo Hayez's disappearance could have significant impact on other missing persons cases (pictured, left, with his girlfriend)
Theo Hayez was backpacking in Australia and was passing through Byron Bay when he vanished in 2019
Detectives investigating missing persons and family members desperate to locate their loved ones still have to deal with complicated legal and privacy restrictions delaying access to vital digital information.
Kristina Edwards, counsel assisting New South Wales state coroner Teresa O'Sullivan, told the hearing better use of technology could 'transform' these types of cases.
'It's now the case that within hours, location data and internet data can be obtained from internet service providers like Facebook and like Google but it's not a straightforward process,' Ms Edwards said, according to The Weekend Australian.
In a 15-minute summary of Hayez's disappearance Ms Edwards recapped facts around the case and concluded digital data was 'critical' in this case and would also be key to solving others.
Hayez's Oppo smartphone had been pinging data back to Google every 15 minutes - but only through the perseverance of his family was the treasure trove of information eventually released.
They discovered he had looked for directions on Google Maps back to his backpacker accommodation after he left Cheeky Monkeys bar but location data showed he walked in the opposite direction.
Hayez, who was only passing through Byron Bay, walked through residential areas and bushland to arrive at Cosy Corner, at one end of Tallow Beach near the lighthouse, at about midnight.
Data from Hayez's phone has traced this route as his last known movements before he vanished on the night of May 31, 2019
Cosy Corner at Tallow Beach is where Hayez's phone last pinged
Pictured: Theo Hayez's family pay tribute to the backpacker on his 20th birthday in September
The Belgian backpacker's father, Laurent Hayez (pictured centre) speaking in Australia
'Around that time and afterwards, there were messages sent in French by a person that we believe to be Theo, which suggests that he was alive and felt safe enough to send those messages at that time,' Ms Edwards said.
'It is not known where Theo went after this point or what happened to him.'
Ms Edwards said her team and the manager of the NSW Police missing person register were working with Facebook, Google and Uber to develop a 'joint-protocol' for when a person goes missing.
A two-week inquest into Hayez's disappearance will be held in Byron Bay by state coroner O'Sullivan.
THE TIMELINE OF THEO HAYEZ'S DISAPPEARANCE
May 31st 7.45pm: Theo Hayez and an unnamed friend were caught on CCTV camera at a local bottle shop in Byron Bay.
May 31st 11pm: The last confirmed sighting of Hayez. He was spotted leaving the Cheeky Monkey's bar.
June 1st AM: The last confirmed WhatsApp message was sent from Theo's phone.
June 1st 1:42pm: Theo's phone pinged for the last time.
June 6th: Theo was reported missing to local police .
June 9th: Police conducted a major land, sea and air search in the Byron Bay area with the assistance of rescue officers, the State Emergency Service, a lifesaver helicopter and lifesavers.
June 10th: Locals and other backpackers joined in the search for Theo.
June 10th-June 16th: SES crews, the dog squad, lifeguards, local volunteers and police are continuing to search the Byron Bay headlands, east and north of the town, as well as beaches and swamps.
June 16th: Theo's mother Vinciane Delforge, told a French broadcaster in Belgium she is holding out hope her son is safe and well, but said his disappearance is entirely out of character.
June 17th: Theo's father Laurent Hayez travels to Byron Bay to help search for his son Theo. He makes an emotional plea asking Australia to keep looking for his son and vows to stay in the country until he is found.
He says he hopes WhatsApp will cooperate with police to decode the messages that Theo last sent - a feat, he says, which could change the course of the search.
Police confess they are still 'baffled' by the case, and are keeping all lines of inquiry open.
Homicide detectives join in on the search for Theo.
July 3rd: NSW Police announce the full-scale search for the teenager had been called off, but investigations are ongoing.
July 12th: Theo's heartbroken father flies home.
July 17th: Top forensic psychologist Tim Watson-Munro says believes Theo could have been the victim of an unknown serial killer, along with two 20-year-old backpackers who went missing on the NSW north coast months prior.
July 18th: Theo's parents reveal they believe he is still alive and are holding out hope he is in a commune.
August: A dedicated group of Byron Bay locals have brought in cadaver dogs to search for missing Belgian tourist Theo Hayez.
The dogs and their handlers scoured bushland in the Arakwal National Park including Tallow Beach.
September: Theo's father Laurent Hayez arrives back in Australia to continue his search for his son.
September 16th: Police call off the search for Theo and refer his case to the coroner.
October 13th: Theo's family confirm a cap found in dense bushland near to where the missing backpacker's phone last 'pinged' belonged to him.