07-31-2005
Vic: Police urge missing persons to send an email
By Kate Lahey
MELBOURNE, July 31 AAP - Dylan Redman hasn't seen his brother for 14 years and it breaks his heart that he can't find out why.
Owen, who disappeared at the age of 25 in 1991, is among thousands of Victorians who go missing each year.
In the 12 months to July this year, 6,646 people were reported missing in Victoria, nearly 3,000 aged under 18.
Today in Melbourne, police and welfare agencies launched missing persons week, urging people to contact their family through an email, just to let them know they're okay.
For Dylan, 33, today's launch was a painful experience.
He broke down as he told reporters of the anguish he suffers in not knowing what happened to Owen, who failed to turn up to work one day and hasn't been seen since.
"He seemed a bit unhappy and pretty unstable and his girlfriend at the time ended up splitting up with him," Dylan said.
"She said that he'd tried to commit suicide a few times.
"I really miss him and I just want to know he's okay. It doesn't matter what he's into or where he's at, I don't care.
"I just want to see him, or at least know, get some sort of closure on this whole thing.
It just seems so stupid not to know where someone's at, and they're so important to you.
"I love my brother and I just want to know, is he okay? Is he dead? Is he overseas having a great time? I just want to know, yes or no, is he still around?"