Discussing Jack McLennan in the past tense feels like a profound loss, despite the fact that he was a vibrant 27-year-old devoted to his family, especially his two younger sisters. His disappearance on October 4 of last year remains a mystery, with no solid evidence confirming his fate.
The investigation now rests with Queensland’s Coroners Court, raising grim possibilities for Jack’s parents, who fear he may never return. Jack’s father, Ross McLennan, has expressed concerns about multiple individuals being involved in Jack’s disappearance, vowing to seek justice for his son. Together with Jack’s mother, Kellie Moody, they have taken it upon themselves to investigate further, funded by generous donations from the community.
Through their efforts, they have reconstructed a timeline of Jack’s final day. On the morning of his disappearance, he visited the Murgon police station regarding tenancy issues after leaving a rental property. Later, at 1:37 pm, CCTV footage captured him and his colleague, Chris Duke, visiting a local bottle shop, where he appeared relaxed before they headed to Ficks Crossing, a popular spot for socialising.
Kellie Moody recalls a phone call with Jack that afternoon, where he mentioned hitting his head on a rope swing but assured her he was fine. He then reportedly went with Duke to Wondai, spending a couple of hours at a friend’s house. When Kellie called Jack later that evening, he turned down her offer to pick him up, saying he planned to stay overnight at a friend’s place instead.
However, reports suggest that Jack returned to Ficks Crossing, with Duke claiming that Jack left to meet someone on a date. Following his disappearance, extensive searches by police and SES teams failed to locate Jack. His personal belongings were found scattered: his shoes near a swimming hole, a hat several kilometres away, and his wallet in a nearby paddock. This evidence doesn’t align, raising more questions than answers.
Jack’s phone has not been located, and it had ceased functioning around 10:30 pm on the night he vanished. Authorities are keeping an open mind in their investigation, confirming he was last seen wearing a camouflage shirt, dark shorts, and white shoes. Attempts by media to contact Duke for clarification have been met with silence from him and his family.
Kellie has expressed a desire for direct communication with Duke’s family, feeling a lack of outreach from them during this difficult time. Jack’s absence is profoundly felt by his family, particularly by Ross, who describes him as his world.
For those interested in following the investigation led by Ross and Kellie, updates are available on their Facebook page.