Five Years of Uncertainty: Family of Missing WA Man Jeremiah Rivers Still Seeking Answers

Life has been incredibly tough for Joanne Rivers since her son Jeremiah went missing five years ago. The pain and uncertainty still linger, with Joanne expressing her deep longing for answers about his disappearance.

"Every day, every night, waking up all shaken and with tears, thinking of my son and wondering, thinking, 'What really happened? Where could he be?'" she says.

Jeremiah "Jayo" Rivers, a 27-year-old Gija man from Warmun in Western Australia's Kimberley region, was last seen on October 18, 2021. He was on a trip with six other men when he vanished.

In May 2024, police restarted the search for Mr. Rivers after receiving "new information," and extensive resources were deployed to the remote Noccundra area in south-west Queensland.

Later that year, a Queensland coroner found Mr. Rivers was deceased and likely "met with foul play." The coroner, Donald MacKenzie, noted there was "a reasonable suspicion of homicide" but could not identify the person or people responsible.

The coroner highlighted that the "consistent changing narrative of Mr. Rivers's disappearance" resulted in a delayed response from police and redirected their search and rescue resources into different areas.

During the inquest, witnesses gave differing accounts of the trip. Some described it as a hunting trip, while others claimed the purpose was to transport a large quantity of cannabis to Darwin to sell to remote communities.

The Rivers family's lawyer, Stewart Lewis, suggested "Jayo found out about the drugs and wanted out."

Joanne Rivers said she "wanted justice" and would not stop looking for answers. "We don't know the full story," she said. "Me and my family, we all need answers. And we want it now. It's been five years."

Two of Mr. Rivers's aunties, Marcia Purdie and Belinda Rivers, described feelings of numbness and anger within the family. Marcia Purdie said the family wanted a "court hearing, not an inquest."

"We want this case in court … where someone can get found guilty," she said. "That will bring us closure."

Belinda Rivers expressed frustration with the coroner's findings, stating, "They made that statement he may have met foul play. Well, back your statement up."

"Obviously you've got to know something to make that statement," she added.

The police investigation into Mr. Rivers's disappearance is still open, but his aunties are "angry" about the lack of progress.

Marcia Purdie said, "Our hope is to keep his name out there until someone finds it in their heart to come forth and tell the truth."

"He's not a nobody. He is somebody," she said. "He's somebody's child, he's somebody's grandson, somebody's nephew, somebody's friend, brother, uncle."

Joanne Rivers said it's hard to go on without her son in her life. "I miss him every day," she said, fighting back tears. "I see all these young people, even the football clubs he played in, and I see all these young fellas and [I'm] wishing that he is still there."