Barry John AYTON

Barry John AYTON
DOB: 1945
HAIR: Grey BUILD: Medium EYES: Blue
CIRCUMSTANCES:
Barry Ayton was last seen at 10am on Tuesday 18 March 1997, by his daughter. At the time he was standing outside his address speaking to an unknown male person not further described. Since this date he has failed to attend his place of employment, or attend to his stock or his property located at New Whittien Road, Tamworth.

Office of the Minister for Police

SYDNEY, 1 November 2006.

MURDER

ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS ($100,000) REWARD

ON the 18th March 1997, Barry John AYTON, aged 52 years, was last seen at his home address in Tamworth, New South Wales. AYTON has not been seen or heard from since and it is believed that AYTON has met with foul play and is now deceased.

Notice is hereby given that a reward of up to one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) will be paid by the Government of New South Wales for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the death of Barry John AYTON.

The allocation of this reward will be at the sole discretion of the Commissioner of Police.

The urgent assistance and co-operation of the public is especially sought in the matter. Any information, which will be treated as confi dential, may be given at any time of the day or night any Police Station or by telephone -

Police Headquarters telephone (02) 9281 0000, or

Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000

THE HON. JOHN ARTHUR WATKINS, M.P.,

Minister for Police

 

NSW Coroner’s Inquest – Barry John Ayton

24 July 2006

An inquest will commence at Tamworth Local Court tomorrow (Tuesday 25 July 2006) into the disappearance / suspected death of a Tamworth man who went missing in 1997.

Barry John Ayton, aged 60, was last seen on 18 March 1997 at his home in Crown Street, Tamworth talking to another man who appeared to be wearing a uniform.

The 60-year-old has failed to make contact with family or friends since that date and has not accessed his bank accounts.

Mr Ayton is described as being of white/European appearance, of medium build, 180cm tall and grey hair.

Deputy NSW Coroner Carl Milanovich and NSW Police are appealing for anyone who may have knowledge of Mr Ayton’s current whereabouts or the circumstances surrounding his disappearance, to contact Tamworth Detectives on 02 6768-2999 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Family fears for the life of missing man
Tuesday, 25 July 2006 - Northern Daily Leader

THE family of a Tamworth man missing for nine years yesterday revealed that during the first part of a three day inquest into his disappearance and suspected death they feared he was more than likely to be dead, as no contact has been made with him during that time.
Barry John Ayton was last seen outside his Crown St address on the morning of Tuesday, March 18, 1997 before going missing without any contact with family members or access to his bank accounts.

The inquest at Tamworth Court before Deputy State Coroner Carl Milovanovich heard from five witnesses including Mr Ayton's former wife and two daughters, a debt collector and the officer in charge of the investigation, Tamworth detective senior constable Graham Goodwin.

During the course of the inquest it was revealed Mr Ayton was in debt with Tamworth City Council prior to going missing for not paying his rates and broke down when issued a summons by a debt collector.

The then 52-year-old was last seen outside his home in Crown St talking with a man on the morning of March 18, however, Mr Ayton's first cousin Margaret Owen yesterday told how she saw him talking to a man at a vacant block in Bridge St shortly after 3.30pm.

Mr Ayton's daughter Heather Dillon said she last saw her father on March 15 and he appeared in a good mood and was laughing and joking with her.

Ms Dillon said she often cooked a baked dinner on Sunday nights and her father could smell a baked dinner from a mile away.

"Dad popped in when he felt like it," she said.


"I don't believe he hurt himself, but I think he's dead. I don't think he's alive, I don't know what I think."

The inquest continues today.

 

Search for missing man still on after 16 years

He disappeared from his Tamworth home, where he had been living with his son, without a trace in March, 1997.

Yet despite all those years having passed, the case remains open.

Barry Ayton was born in February 1945 and had just turned 52 when he went missing.

Oxley crime manager Inspector Phil O’Reilly said Mr Ayton’s never been heard of or seen since the day he disappeared and all avenues by police and Mr Ayton’s family have failed to find any trace of where he might be.

“He hasn’t accessed his bank accounts and has never made contact with anyone,” Inspector O’Reilly said.

“An inquest was held in Tamworth in 2006 and many questions about his death remain unanswered.”

“The state coroner found Mr Ayton had died but he couldn’t determine the cause, place or date.”

Despite the state coroner’s findings, the case remains firmly on the police radar.

Police followed a few leads in 2011 when they received information that someone fitting the description of Mr Ayton was seen in the Narrabri area.

However, police eventually made contact with the person and confirmed that it was not him.

When police leads began to dry up a reward was offered for information concerning the disappearance of Mr Ayton.

“The NSW government offered a $100,000 reward for information which leads to the arrest and conviction of a person or persons responsible,” Inspector O’Reilly said.

That reward still stands today.

There was also a fresh appeal for help earlier this year, but despite all attempts, the case is still open.

If he’s still alive, Barry Ayton would be 68-years-old.

Anyone with information on the disappearance of Mr Ayton is urged to contact Tamworth police on 6768 2999 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.