He left his phone and wallet behind -- completely out of character for a man known for staying close to his family. That was the last time anyone saw Wesley Lockyer.
The Disappearance
Wesley Lockyer, 29, a ranger and well-regarded member of the Jinparinya Aboriginal community, about 20 kilometers north of Port Hedland in Western Australia's Pilbara region, was last seen leaving his home there in October 2022. He left behind his phone and wallet -- a detail his family and police have described as starkly out of character.
The Search
WA Police, along with local rangers, State Emergency Service volunteers, and Lockyer's own family, conducted an extensive search covering roughly 150 square kilometers around the community, using helicopters, drones, and a mobile police command post. Despite the scale of the effort, no trace of him was found.
Part of a Larger, Troubling Pattern
Wesley's case is one of at least six unexplained disappearances of Indigenous men from across the Pilbara, Kimberley, and Gascoyne regions in recent years, including his cousin Clinton Lockyer, who went missing the same month, and Zane Stevens, Wylie Oscar, and Brenton Shar. In September 2024, hundreds of people attended a rally at Parliament House in Perth organized by the men's families, calling for greater police resources and public attention -- concerns advocates have linked to a broader pattern of missing Indigenous cases historically receiving less urgency than other missing person cases.
A State Reward
In December 2024, the Western Australian government announced a $500,000 reward -- the largest in the state's history for a long-term missing persons case -- for information leading to the location of Wesley or the other missing men. WA Police Minister Paul Papalia said the reward reflected the government's commitment to finding answers for the families involved.
A Mother's Continued Search
Wesley's mother, Joanne, a Nyamal woman, has continued publicly advocating for her son's case in the years since his disappearance, including attending the 2024 Perth rally alongside other affected families.
FAQ
Has Wesley Lockyer been found?
No. As of the available information, he remains missing.
Is his case connected to other disappearances?
It's part of a broader, unexplained pattern of at least six Indigenous men going missing from northern Western Australia in recent years, prompting a state government reward and public advocacy campaigns.
Is there a reward for information?
Yes. The WA government announced a $500,000 reward in December 2024 covering Wesley's case and several related disappearances.