A stolen car has been linked to the suspicious disappearance of Kimberley man Jeremiah “Jayo” Rivers, who went missing in remote southwest Queensland last month.
The 27-year-old was last seen near Wippo Creek, around 20 kilometres south of Noccundra at 9:30 am on 18 October.
Queensland police say the white Ford Focus, registered 600SZJ, was stolen from the Sunshine Coast and in the same area.
"It ended up out in the southwest area. That is of interest to us because that is an unusual thing for a vehicle stolen from the Sunshine Coast to do," Detective Acting Superintendent Stephen Blanchfield said.
"There is no suggestion that Jeremiah knows these people at this stage but it is of interest to us that a car would travel from the Sunshine Coast to Thargomindah.”
Police say the vehicle was stolen 24 hours before Mr Rivers disappeared.
It has since been located and seized in the Gold Coast suburb of Coomera.
"We are very interested in anyone who saw that vehicle or the people who were in that vehicle,” Mr Blanchfield said.
Mr Rivers disappeared while camping with six other people as he travelled back to Darwin from Balranald in the Riverina district of New South Wales.
The stolen car registered 600SZJ was seen with at least two occupants in a number of fuel drive-offs near Noccundra. Source: Queensland Police
Mr Blanchfield said Queensland homicide detectives still haven’t spoken to two members of Mr Rivers’ camping group after some tested positive to COVID-19 and went into isolation.
Police have concluded their search of the Wippo Creek area, but members of Mr Rivers' family have travelled from Western Australia and the Northern Territory to continue looking for him.
Mr Rivers is about 185cm tall, has a slim build and a tattoo of a cross under his right arm.
He was last seen wearing a red Chicago Bulls NBA singlet, red Adidas sneakers and black jeans.
Police are urging anyone with information about Mr Rivers to contact them.
