The Australian creates podcast around the disappearance of Theo Hayez: The Lighthouse
The Australian is today launching a new investigative podcast series, The Lighthouse, centring on the disappearance of Belgian backpacker Theo Hayez, who hasn’t been seen since May.
The announcement:
From the team behind the award-winning podcasts The Teacher’s Pet, Bowraville, Who the hell is Hamish? and Lost in Larrimah, The Australian today launches its latest investigative podcast, The Lighthouse, about the mysterious disappearance of Belgian backpacker Theo Hayez.
At the request of Theo’s family, The Australian’s national crime correspondent, David Murray, joined the unofficial search party to investigate what happened to Theo who hasn’t been seen since leaving a Byron Bay bar in May this year.
As a range of theories for his disappearance emerge, The Lighthouse delves into all possible scenarios highlighted by a major police investigation and takes you inside the extraordinary search by local volunteers who’ve never met Theo.
The podcast also explores the stark contrast between Byron Bay’s millionaires and the homeless community living in hidden bush camps, along with the role technology has played in the case and how it will continue to transform the search for missing people.
Commenting on the release of the podcast, The Australian’s Editor-in-Chief, Christopher Dore, says: “Our investigative podcasts have become an essential part of Australia’s journalism landscape, giving listeners a unique opportunity to consume brilliantly told audio stories with world-class reporting in our print and online editions. The Australian’s reporting has also led to remarkable outcomes in cases, enlivening communities and bringing stories to life in such a way that authorities have little choice but to take notice.”
Murray says: “The Byron Bay community has been rocked by Theo’s disappearance, demonstrated by the spontaneous and sustained search in the town by people who’d never met the young backpacker. The Lighthouse aims to help Theo’s family and the local volunteers supporting them in their search for answers.”
Managing Director The Australian, NSW & Prestige Titles, Nicholas Gray says: “The Australian has had great success in reaching new and engaged audiences through our podcasts. By highlighting and shedding new light on such an intriguing case I’m confident The Lighthouse will assist the investigation and continue to broaden the reach of The Australian.”
A new episode will be released each Friday, with the first episode going live this afternoon. For more information and to listen to the podcast visit theaustralian.com.au/thelighthouse
The project is one of many podcasts created by NewsCast – News Corp Australia’s podcasting arm, announced at the company’s Come Together 2019 showcase.
Source: News Corp media release
Hi David,
I have been following this case intently and have now listened to podcasts. I am a psychologist who spends a lot of time in Byron and also have kids that have spent a great deal of time there – so I know it well. One question I have is – how do you know that Theo was the person being tracked by google maps? Could it be that he had his phone stolen? and his cap? It is not usual to get thrown out of cheeky monkeys for no reason but it is very unusual for him not to walk home to his hostel – especially in winter and being new to area. Maybe he was mugged or attacked on way back to hostel – as suggested by CCTV it looks like he was heading back there. And then someone took his phone – which was already logged in because he had been using it – to sports fields and track to beach – could have been on a skate board rather than running. Just some ideas I had and thought I would pass them on. Every little bit helps.
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I have wondered the same as Juanita Muller. How can we be sure that it was Theo who had the phone when it it was being tracked by Google?
The abandoned campsite by the beach where Theo came out, and the licence of the man who lived there needs to be followed up. It is a key piece of evidence.
In terms of the Grindr theory: the experiment done by the man in the podcast is not sufficient to eliminate whether Theo was using Grindr or not. It is possible to have a blank, faceless profile on Grindr. If anyone on Grindr was involved they are not going to respond to: ‘anyone missing Theo?’ . If Theo was faceless on Grindr?
Has the man on the podcast been eliminated? Where was he when other backpackers have gone missing?
Has the man in the blue shirt at Cheeky Monkeys in CCTV footage been interviewed?
Surely the
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