Family of missing West Australian Zane Stevens demand answers over 21-year-old's disappearance
Zane Stevens' relatives have flown to Broome to help search for the missing 21-year-old. (ABC Kimberley: Esse Deves)
- In short: The family of missing WA man Zane Stevens are pleading for information about the 21-year-old's disappearance.
- Relatives say his young daughter "looks for Daddy" every day since he was first reported missing on April 26.
- What's next? The family is in talks with local traditional owners to continue the search and hold an awareness march in Broome.
Surrounded by her family, Nora Togo's eyes fill with tears as she speaks about her grandson Zane Stevens.
The Pilbara woman last saw Mr Stevens about two months before he was reported missing, north of Broome last month.
"I want my grandchild back," Ms Togo said.
"Very sad. I feel lonely and sad."
Nora Togo says more support is needed for her missing grandson, and his family. (ABC Kimberley: Esse Deves)
Mr Stevens, 21, has not contacted family since his ute became bogged in mud near Coconut Wells, about 20 kilometres north of the tourist town.
The father-of-one was travelling with another man when they became separated, after leaving their vehicle and asking for water from a nearby resident.
Recovery gear, clothing and footprints were seen surrounding Zane Stevens' bogged and abandoned vehicle. (ABC Kimberley: Andrew Seabourne)
Mr Stevens' relatives have travelled to Broome from across the state to support his partner and two-year-old daughter.
His aunt, Tania Stevens, said his disappearance had taken a toll on the family, as they could not provide the answers Mr Stevens' daughter desperately needs.
"She's a very, very smart little girl. She knows her dad, she loves her dad," she said.
Zane Stevens' family say they want answers regarding his disappearance. (Supplied: Tania Stevens)
"For a little two-year-old to look for her dad every day … there's not a day goes by that she's not looking for her daddy."
Mr Stevens' relatives believe someone in the community knows what happened to him.
"We need to know the truth about what happened to Zane so we can comfort the grandmother, the father, the missus and the two-year-old," Tania Stevens said.
"When you look at them every day, you see the hurt every day that they go through."
Zane Stevens was last seen at Coconut Wells near Broome on April 26. (Supplied: Tania Stevens)
Search called off 'too soon'
The extensive land, air and sea search for Mr Stevens was suspended one week after he was reported missing.
Dozens of police and state emergency service volunteers scoured bush and marshland, tracking footprints for any sign of the 21-year-old.
An item of clothing, believed to belong to Mr Stevens, was recovered.
Police and SES personnel make their way through scrub and dense bushland during the search. (ABC Kimberley: Esse Deves)
His grandmother, Naomi Bobby, said she believed the search for her grandson was called off too early.
"We came on the first week of his missing time … we stood back for what was going to come to us," she said.
"We went through a lot of little arguments and stress. It's not right."
Ms Bobby said her family had been in touch with Yawuru traditional owners about continuing the search, following respectful cultural protocols.
"We need [a lot of support] from Broome — Broome town itself and from other surrounding language groups to find our grandson," she said.
Community coming together
In a bid to raise further awareness, Mr Stevens' family is organising a march in Broome to call for more information.
They hope it will also shine light on other missing Indigenous people in the region.
"When you look at it, a lot of our Indigenous people go missing and the families don't get closure," Ms Stevens said.
"We need to put the pressure on, saying 'we're not going away, we want to know where our Indigenous people are' because they actually belong to a family and family want closure."
Zane Stevens' family, including his grandmothers, have travelled from as far as Perth to help find the missing 21-year-old. (ABC Kimberley: Esse Deves)
Relative Kerry Churnside said the 21-year-old's disappearance had been felt across northern WA.
"It's very hard to sleep not knowing where this boy is," she said.
"There are people sitting out there with answers."
A community meeting will be held in the Pilbara town of Roebourne, where Mr Stevens grew up, this weekend to discuss how to support his immediate family.
In a statement, WA Police said "at this time there is no evidence of criminality".