Wesley Lockyer: Police to bring in Indigenous rangers in search for missing Hedland man

Police drones will return to Port Hedland as a renewed search effort for missing South Hedland man Wesley Lockyer, which will include Indigenous rangers, kicks off to coincide with Mr Lockyer’s 30th birthday.

Mr Lockyer was last seen leaving the Jinparinya Aboriginal Community, about 30km from Port Hedland, on October 24 at 6am.

He was believed to have left the area on foot, however, extensive search efforts in the weeks following his disappearance, which included a search area of 150sq km in a 3km radius around Junparinya Aboriginal Community had been unable to locate him.

He is described as about 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.

Now, to coincide with Mr Lockyer’s 30th birthday on March 19, Police have renewed calls for information and will recommence the land search, which was suspended in early November 2022 pending new information.

New images of Mr Lockyer have also been released with hopes anyone with information may come forward.

It comes after, in February, a respected Perth-based private investigator with more than 30 years of experience was enlisted by the Taylor and Lockyer families.

A former WA policeman, private investigator Mick Buckley has been involved in a number of high-profile missing person cases — including the 1992 search for missing Malaysian international student Siti Bahyah.

Speaking to the North West Telegraph when he arrived in Hedland on February 14, Mr Buckley said he believed some Aboriginal community members might have been hesitant to engage in the investigation due to cultural issues with police, which he said limited the scope of what could be achieved.

It’s unclear whether new information was the reason for the renewed search.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online at crimestopperswa.com.au