By Tanya Steele and Mikayla Van Loon
The search for missing Kallista man Zak has expanded after new information came to light overnight on Monday 6 May.
Acting officer in charge of Belgrave Police Lee Thompson expressed hope that Zakary is alive when speaking to Star Mail on Tuesday 7 May.
“It gives us some hope that Zak’s still going to be alive and well – there are still people working in the background to verify certain things,” he said.
“As a result of information received overnight through phone data, our search area is going to be moving a little bit further east from the National Park and we’ll concentrate our efforts there.”
Zak was last seen wearing a grey jacket, mustard-coloured t-shirt, navy tracksuit pants and black shoes and was last seen on Norton Road, Kallista, on the evening of 28 April.
Police believe he may have gone walking in the Sherbrooke Forest in the early morning of 29 April, he has a medical condition and his disappearance is out of character.
Zak is described as Caucasian in appearance, 170cm tall, of medium build with short blond/brown hair and possibly a moustache.
Police will still have a search and rescue team remaining at Grant’s Picnic Ground on Wednesday 8 May and will also have support from uniformed officers and a public order response team.
“SES and CFA will continue to assist and we will have support from police air and canine units,” AOIC Thompson said.
SES Emerald Unit Controller Emerald Ben Owen said that SES volunteers continue to provide assistance as best they can on day six of the search.
“We first responded at 4pm on Thursday 2 May,” he said.
Acting OIC Thompson said it’s been very hard going for volunteers and police members and that most of the members undertaking the search on foot are being tasked to specific areas of the bushland.
“It is very dense, very big and steep terrain,” he said.
“We also have a team working in headquarters, analysing phone data, social media and any avenues of inquiry we can call up and use to pinpoint Zakary’s location.”
A representative from police media confirmed that police have conducted a robust search of the Dandenong Ranges State Park to locate Zakery.
“Officers are satisfied that Zakary is not in any of the locations that have been searched,” they said.
Investigators are currently reviewing CCTV footage of areas around Kallista, Monbulk, and Belgrave and police are hopeful and optimistic that Zak will be located safe and well.
Police encourage anyone with information to come forward and Acting OIC Thompson said if Zakery can, could he please make contact with police, his family or friends.
“He’s not in any trouble – we just want to make sure he is safe and well,” he said.
Anyone who sees Zak is urged to contact Belgrave Police Station on (03) 9754 6677 or call 000.
