He was never seen again, and his family believes someone knows the truth, but doesn't want to come forward.
Despite a $500,000 reward, his disappearance remains one of Australia’s most frustrating cold cases.
What really happened that morning?
Who Was Marc Kristian Mietus?
Marc Kristian Mietus was born in Victoria, Australia, and he was the youngest of three children in a very close family.
As a young boy, Marc was known for being great at sports, especially football.
He had a lot of energy and natural talent, which made him stand out on the field.
By his mid-teens, Marc’s life began to take a difficult turn.
His parents’ separation had a deep impact on him, and over time, he started following the wrong crowd.
According to his sister, Prue, Marc was “easily led astray".
In 1997, he moved to Queensland for the first time, hoping for a fresh start.
There, he made friends quickly, but his troubles followed.
He was eventually arrested for stealing a car and sent to Brisbane’s Arthur Gorrie Correctional Centre.
According to ABC, other inmates later said they were surprised to see him in jail, saying he was a good kid who knew right from wrong.
After his release in 1999, Marc went back to Melbourne to live with his mother, took a job as a plumber, and tried to get his life back on track.
His family celebrated his 21st birthday that September, not knowing it would be the last time they’d all be together.
By January 2000, Marc was feeling restless and wanted a change.
He packed his things into the white Ford Falcon ute his mother gave him and drove back to Queensland.
Tragically, this decision would change his life and the lives of his loved ones forever.
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| Marc Kristian Mietus |
The Disappearance: What Happened?
On January 6, 2000, Marc Kristian Mietus left Melbourne in his white 1985 Ford Falcon ute, driving north toward Queensland.
Along the way, near Gilgandra, New South Wales, he picked up a hitchhiker who offered him a place to stay in exchange for a ride.
The next day, they arrived at a rural property in Booyal, where Marc stayed in a caravan.
Over the following weeks, Marc traveled frequently between Booyal and Brisbane, sometimes staying with friends in the city.
On January 18, around 11:30 a.m., he stopped at a Shell service station in Gympie but didn’t have enough cash to pay for fuel.
He left his mobile phone, driver’s license, and his father’s contact details with the attendant, promising to come back after a trip to Hervey Bay.
According to police reports, there was an unidentified man in the passenger seat of Marc's car.
He was about 30 years old with shoulder-length dark hair, and he never spoke or left the vehicle.
Instead of going to Hervey Bay as he said, Marc drove south to Brisbane.
That same day, he traded his ute for a red and white Honda XL250 motorcycle at Moorooka Yamaha.
In the early hours of January 26—Australia Day—Marc was seen at a friend’s house in Brisbane, quickly packing his things before leaving on his new motorcycle.
Around 2:45 a.m., he stopped at a Matilda service station near Gympie and briefly spoke with police.
The details of that conversation have not been made public.
By 6:30 a.m., Marc had returned to the caravan in Booyal, where his landlord asked him for his rent which is overdue.
According to police reports, the landlord said he seemed distracted, and his speech disjointed.
He said he needed to call a friend for money and rode his motorcycle to the Booyal Roadhouse, about 1.5 kilometers away.
There, he made three calls from a payphone to a Brisbane contact known to police.
When he returned, he told others at the property that a "friend" was coming to get him.
Later that morning, Marc was seen getting into a tan-colored Ford XD sedan with several people inside.
The car then drove away, and Marc was never seen again.
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| The Caravan Marc stayed in |
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| Marc's bike |
The Investigation into Marc Kristian Mietus disappearance
Queensland Police initially treated Marc Kristian Mietus’ disappearance as a missing person case.
Detectives focused on his last confirmed sighting on January 26, 2000, when he entered a tan Ford sedan at the Booyal property.
The sedan and its occupants were never identified or located.
Forensic teams examined the caravan where Marc had been staying at the Booyal property.
While no obvious signs of violence were found, investigators collected potential evidence for analysis.
After a lengthy investigation, police concluded that Marc was possibly murdered after his dissappearance.
They believed that Marc’s unusual speech and behavior at the Booyal property pointed to possible drug involvement.
Detectives have identified and interviewed some persons of interest, but no one has been charged with a crime.
However, they are still searching for the man who was seen sitting in the car with Marc at the gas station, as he remains unidentified to this day.
Ongoing Efforts
Despite the passage of time, authorities are still actively following up on leads in the disappearance of Marc Kristian Mietus.
In 2024, investigators conducted a comprehensive search of the Booyal property where Marc was last seen.
They used ground-penetrating radar and police divers to scour the 44-hectare site, but nothing concrete emerged.
In 2015, authorities offered a $250,000 reward for information, but it was increased to $500,000 in 2024.
The Homicide Cold Case Investigation Team later reviewed the case, carrying out more than 200 inquiries and collecting 104 statements.
Investigators have also re-interviewed witnesses and persons of interest in hopes of uncovering new leads.
Detectives continue to appeal specifically for information about the tan Ford XD sedan and its occupants from January 26, 2000, as well as any details regarding Marc's red and white Honda XL250 motorcycle.
Authorities emphasize that even minor details from the public could prove crucial.
They are also looking for anyone who may have been at the Booyal property in January 2000 or who has information about vehicle movements in the area during that time.
Detectives believe there are people with knowledge of Marc’s disappearance who have not yet come forward.
They continue to seek information in hopes of solving the case and giving answers to Marc’s family.
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