Over the weekend, members of the public launched into a survey of the Wondai forestry to search for missing 27-year-old Jack McLennan.
A group of over a dozen people, including friends and family of Mr McLennan, set out from Wondai on 19 October to bolster the search operation by police and SES staff.
One search party member used drones to view the forestry from above, while another team covered ground using dirt bikes and all-terrain vehicles.
The public party’s formation came off the back of police and State Emergency Services officially scaling back their search efforts after over two weeks.
The Queensland Police Service has since tasked the Darling Downs Criminal Investigation Branch and Homicide Investigation Unit to further look into Mr McLennan’s disappearance.
During a press conference in Toowoomba on Tuesday, 22 October, Detective Acting Inspector of the Darling Downs crime branch Brian Collins said police are not yet suspecting ‘foul play’ behind the 27-year-old’s disappearance from Ficks Crossing on 4 October.
Det Insp Collins said police were not treating Mr McLennan’s case as suspicious at this stage.
When asked why a homicide task force was brought in to investigate, the QPS spokesperson said the criminal branch featured ‘specialist’ investigators using novel methodologies, which could assist local police crews.
Det Insp Collins said police were speaking to a number of witnesses and Mr McLennan’s friends, who were at Ficks Crossing with him before he was last seen; however, no ‘persons of interest’ have emerged during the investigation so far.
Police have put out a call for any motorists travelling on the Bunya Highway between Wondai and Murgon on the evening of 4 October and morning of 5 October to come forward if they spotted anyone walking along the road during their drive.
Officers have again voiced their desire to speak to a person driving a black car with a rooftop tent, whom they believe may have been camping at Ficks Crossing at the time Mr McLennan was last seen.
Jack McLennan is described as white-skinned, approximately 185cm tall with light brown hair and brown eyes.
Police have asked residents of the areas around Murgon and Wondai to check their properties, paying particular attention to sheds and other outbuildings for signs of the missing man.
Anyone with information about Mr McLennan’s whereabouts is urged to immediately contact police.
If you see Jack McLennan or have any other information regarding the investigation, contact police on 131 444 or 1800 333 000, quoting reference number QP2401711494.
