October 10, 2023
Specialist police resources, including the Dog Squad, have been brought in to join the search for missing Kingaroy man Jayden Usher.
Jayden, 28, was last seen between 2:00am and 3:00am on Thursday, October 5, in Booth Street, Kingaroy.
He was with friends and associates at the time, and was seen walking in the direction of Roberta Street.
Police have spoken to people who were with Jayden just prior to him being reported missing.
His vehicle was later located in Booth Street.
Detective Acting Inspector Paula Smithard, from Darling Downs District Police, said police were seeking the public’s help to find Jayden’s mobile phone.
She asked residents who live in the southern part of Kingaroy to search their yards, their footpaths, their gardens or any other local areas such as parks for a missing blue iPhone 15 Pro in a clear case.
“We are also asking residents and business holders in that southern area of the Kingaroy township to check their CCTV footage, or also people who were driving around that area between midnight and 6:00am on Thursday, October 5, to check their dashcams to see if they can see Jayden on any footage,” Acting Inspector Smithard said.
Anyone who finds the phone, or spots someone who looks like Jayden, should contact police immediately on 1800-333-000.
Jayden is described as 180cm tall, Caucasian with brown hair and blue eyes.
Acting Inspector Smithard said police and the man’s family were worried for Jayden’s safety as his disappearance was extremely out of character.
“It’s extremely unusual for Jayden to be absent from home or his workplace for this period of time,” Acting Inspector Smithard said.
She said police were bringing in more resources to join the search.
Local detectives and the Stock Squad, using motorbikes, had joined the search and the SES had been asked to assist.
The police helicopter and QPS drones were also likely to be brought in.
“It’s a vast area that we would like to search that’s not residential so we really do need the assistance of other resources like Polair, Stock Squad on motorbikes, the Dog Squad, that can search big areas in relatively short periods of time,” Acting Inspector Smithard said.
“That’s why we are trying to reach out to the residents of Kingaroy because they can really assist police in searching their yards and their areas … to help us locate a mobile phone or Jayden.”
She said police were keeping an open mind about whether the disappearance was suspicious.
- Related article: Have You Seen Jayden?
[UPDATED: Published originally as “Missing Man: Appeal To Find Phone”]
I’m sure plenty of locals would love to assist but a lot of us aren’t compasses. To make it easier for the public to assist, maybe a map outlining which areas to keep an eye out for the missing person’s belongings would be beneficial.
This is obviously an extremely heartbreaking thing to see in this small town and the person missing was known by many people, so I’m sure there won’t be a lack of people willing to keep an extra eye out. It just needs to be made easier for that to occur.
The areas police are concentrating on are on the southern side of Kingaroy … so all the areas around Booth Street, where he was last seen. There are a number of vacant paddocks in this area as well as parks and many residential properties.