‘They won’t help us’: Family of Wesley Lockyer hit out at lack of action in missing person search

A Perth-based private investigator looking into the disappearance of South Hedland man Wesley Lockyer has offered his insights into the case as family members criticise police efforts on social media. Wesley Lockyer was last seen leaving the Jinparinya Aboriginal Community, about 30km from Port Hedland, on October 24 at 6am. Initial searches of the area where Mr Lockyer went missing were unsuccessful with a renewed and extended search, sparked by Mr Lockyer’s 30th birthday in March which included police drones also failing to turn up any new evidence. Perth-based private investigator Mick Buckley, who travelled to Port Hedland on February 14 and stayed investigating the case for six days, said he believed they would have found Mr Lockyer in the searches if he was in the area. “It is low scrub in that area so if he was there you think they would have found him,” he said. Mr Buckley said Mr Lockyer was well liked and it was strange for someone like himself to go missing. “There’s no reason to believe anyone would want to be aggressive towards him,” he said. “He was just a nice guy who loved his fishing and hunting.” Mr Buckley said he had spoken to several people while in the Port Hedland but ideally he needed to talk to more people who might have information. “We really needed to speak to a few more,” he said. “A couple of people didn’t want to talk to us, which we thought was a bit unusual. “There’s a few people that still believe that he is in the general area of the settlement that he’s walked away from the community but my personal view is that he was taken away in a motor vehicle.” It comes as a member of Mr Lockyer’s family criticised WA Police’s handling of the case on social media. On April 17, police appealed for information on the Pilbara District - WA Police Force Facebook page in relation to suspected arsonists, citing that up to $25,000 rewards were available for information that leads to an arrest. Mr Lockyer’s mother, Joanne Taylor, then took to Facebook to express her dismay that a similar reward had not been offered for information on her missing son. Ms Taylor called out Detective Superintendent Rod Wilde who oversaw the investigation into missing four-year-old girl Cleo Smith that gripped the nation back in 2021, alleging Mr Wilde alongside the WA Police had “refused” to offer a reward for her son in a move she described as a “double standard”. “This story is disturbing and disgusting our family has been struggling to get the WA Police, Rod Wilde and the WA MP Rodger Cook to put out a reward for a mere $20,000, which our family offered to pay, for my missing son Wesley Lockyer who has been missing for 6 months since October 2022,” she said. “The police and the MP have bluntly refused to assist to find my son and have stated that this is not advisable and that they cannot support us, yet they’ll put out a reward to catch someone who started a fire in the middle of nowhere.” A WA Police spokesperson said Police had not offered a reward because Mr Lockyer’s disappearance did not yet fit the criteria. “Rewards for information require a number of criteria to be met including the establishment of criminality,” they said. “No criminality has been established in this matter at this time. “Investigations into the whereabouts of Mr Lockyer remain active and ongoing with the Missing Persons Unit, including public appeals for information. “WA Police remains in contact with Mr Lockyer’s family.” Despite the statement, Mr Buckley said the police could do better in informing the family on updates in the investigation. “The family, I believe, are entitled to updates,” he said. “(The police) are saying if they want an update, just go through the (Freedom of Information Act). I mean, how ridiculous is that? “They’re not getting any feedback from the police and that makes them obviously a little bit disturbed about it.” Mr Lockyer is described as 182cm tall, of solid build, with black hair and a beard and was last seen wearing a dark grey/blue short-sleeve T-shirt and brown shorts. Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online at crimestopperswa.com.au. Minister Roger Cook was contacted for comment but did not respond at time of print. Detective Superintendent Rod Wilde was contacted for comment but did not respond at time of print.