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Police search for missing man in High Country
Police have released CCTV footage of a missing 85-year-old Harrietville man's car driving through Omeo, as the search continues across Victoria's High Country. Jacobus 'John' Bakkum was last seen leaving the Harrietville Hotel on Sunday night and is believed to be driving alone, with a possible sighting reported in the Upper Murray region.
Police release new footage as search for missing 85-year-old continues
Police have released new CCTV footage of a car believed to be driven by an 85-year-old man missing in Victoria's High Country since Sunday night. Jacobus 'John' Bakkum was last seen leaving the Harrietville Hotel, south-east of Mount Buffalo, shortly after 8pm on Sunday. He had been having dinner with his wife, who walked home as part of their regular routine.
But instead of driving the 500 metres directly home, it is believed Mr Bakkum drove off in the opposite direction along the Great Alpine Road, through Hotham Heights. Newly released CCTV shows Mr Bakkum's 2007 silver Toyota Prado, registered WBD-077, driving through Omeo at 9:44pm on Sunday.
Police have also released an image of Mr Bakkum and are urging anyone in Omeo, Biggara and Corryong to contact police if they see him.
Possible sighting in the Upper Murray
The car was spotted on the Great Alpine Road near Dinner Plain just after 9pm, and forty-five minutes later it was seen in Omeo, about 85km from his home. A possible sighting of the car was reported in the Biggara area yesterday at 10:30am, nearly 200 kilometres north-east of Harrietville in the Upper Murray region.
Mr Bakkum's wife usually walks the 500m home while he drives, and they intended to meet at home within 10-15 minutes. Senior Sergeant Justin Foots from Victoria Police said the man's age and the unusual distance travelled were major concerns.
"At this stage, his age is a concern to us, and that it's out of character that he would drive by himself a distance like that," he said. "Certainly wouldn't ordinarily drive too far. And certainly when he left his wife, they were intending to meet at home within the following sort of 10-15 minutes."
Search efforts and description
An extensive search using a police helicopter and ground crews has been conducted at Hotham Heights, Dinner Plain, Harrietville and beyond, but has so far failed to find him. Police have ruled out foul play and believe Mr Bakkum is driving on his own.
Mr Bakkum uses a walking stick, has a hindered back, and is unable to walk long distances. He is described as Asian, slim and about 170 centimetres tall. He was last wearing a brown vest, a blue and pink checkered shirt, a dark baseball cap, green or grey denim pants, brown shoes, and a walking stick.
Police have urged anyone who sees Mr Bakkum or his car to contact Triple Zero (000).
Community figure
John Bakkum is well-known within Harrietville and has received an award from Alpine Shire Council in 2021 for his community work. The family and friends are also searching for him.
How each outlet told it
ABC Australia
Framing: Headline highlights the new CCTV evidence of the car driving through Omeo, suggesting a development in the search. — Factual and neutral, with a focus on new information and police appeals.
Facts Included:
Police have released CCTV of a missing 85-year-old Harrietville man's car driving through Omeo.
The car was spotted in Biggara, in Victoria's Upper Murray yesterday.
Police urge anyone in Omeo, Biggara, and Corryong to contact police if they see Mr Bakkum.
John Bakkum was last seen leaving the Harrietville Hotel at about 8pm on Sunday.
He had been having dinner with his wife, who walked home as part of their regular routine.
Instead of driving the 500 metres directly home, it is believed he drove off in the opposite direction along the Great Alpine Road, through Hotham Heights.
Newly released CCTV shows his 2007 silver Toyota Prado, registration WBD-077, driving through Omeo at 9:44pm on Sunday.
Police have also released an image of Mr Bakkum.
Police report a possible sighting of Mr Bakkum in the Biggara area yesterday at 10:30am.
Mr Bakkum is well-known in Harrietville and received an award from Alpine Shire Council in 2021 for community work.
Foul play has been ruled out; police believe Mr Bakkum is driving on his own.
Mr Bakkum uses a walking stick, has a hunched back, and is unable to walk long distances.
He is described as Caucasian, slim, about 170cm tall, and was last wearing a brown vest, blue and pink chequered shirt, dark baseball cap, green or grey denim pants, brown shoes, and a walking stick.
An extensive search using police helicopter and ground crews at Hotham Heights, Dinner Plain, Harrietville and beyond has so far failed to find him.
Framing: Headline emphasizes the 'baffling mystery' and the man's vanishing, focusing on the puzzling nature of the disappearance. — Concerned and slightly dramatic, with words like 'vanished' and 'baffling mystery'.
Facts Included:
An 85-year-old man has vanished after leaving a pub with his wife and never arriving home.
John Backham left the Harrietville Hotel at 8pm Sunday night after their regular weekly meal.
His wife usually walks the 500m home while he drives, but she arrived home and he never did.
Backham was driving a 2007 silver Toyota Prado with registration WBD 077.
His car was spotted on the Great Alpine Rd near Dinner Plain just after 9pm.
Forty-five minutes later, it was seen in Omeo, about 85km from his home.
Senior Sergeant Justin Foots from Victoria Police said the man's age and the unusual distance travelled were major concerns.
Foots said it was out of character for him to drive by himself a distance like that.
Foots said they intended to meet at home within 10-15 minutes.
Police have been searching across the Alpine region but haven't found any trace.
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Claim
Confidence
Status
ClaimAn 85-year-old man named Jacobus 'John' Bakkum (also referred to as John Backham) went missing from Harrietville in Victoria's High Country after leaving the Harrietville Hotel on Sunday night.
ClaimJacobus 'John' Bakkum was last seen leaving the Harrietville Hotel at about 8pm on Sunday, according to some reports, or shortly after 10pm according to others.
ClaimThe car was spotted on the Great Alpine Road near Dinner Plain just after 9pm, and forty-five minutes later it was seen in Omeo, about 85km from his home.
ClaimInstead of driving the 500 metres directly home, it is believed Mr Bakkum drove off in the opposite direction along the Great Alpine Road, through Hotham Heights.
ClaimMr Bakkum is described as Caucasian, slim, about 170 centimetres tall, and walks hunched over with a walking stick, unable to walk long distances.
ClaimHe was last wearing a brown vest, a blue and pink chequered shirt, a dark baseball cap, green or grey denim pants, brown shoes, and a walking stick.
ClaimAn extensive search using the police helicopter and ground crews at Hotham Heights, Dinner Plain, Harrietville and beyond has so far failed to find him.