Kenneth John CAMPLIN

The former Paralowie home of missing man Kenny Camplin

 

 

Circumstances:

Kenneth Camplin, then aged 44 years, was reported missing by his brother on 30 December 2013. His friends and family became concerned for his welfare after they could not make contact with him. They found his home unsecure and his dog in the back yard near death due to dehydration and starvation.
Kenneth was very security conscious and had security cameras installed on the outside of his home. He always locked his doors when he left the premises but the back door was found to be unlocked. He doted over his dog and would not have intentionally left it to suffer for an extended period.
His phone has not been used since and his bank accounts have not been accessed.
Kenneth was known to be a recreational drug user and a low level supplier of drugs to some of his close associates.
Police suspect he has been murdered.
If you have information that may assist police please call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

 

 

As part of this year’s campaign, SA Police are appealing for public assistance to help locate long-term missing persons, including Kenneth “Kenny” Camplin.

To coincide with National Missing Persons Week, SA Police is rolling out four billboards and 40 taxi advertisements featuring Mr Camplin and Mr Sheppard.

Kenneth Camplin, then 44, was reported missing by his brother on 30 December 2013.

He was last seen alive at 12.25am on the morning of Friday 27 December 2013 at a fast food restaurant drive-thru at Paralowie.

Police believe Mr Camplin then returned home, as his vehicle and the restaurant receipt were found at his home address.

Mr Camplin’s phone has not been used since, and his bank accounts have not been accessed.


Police suspect he has been murdered.

If you have any information relating to Mr Camplin's disappearance, or any long-term missing persons, please phone Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, or report online at sa.crimestoppers.com.au – You can remain anonymous.
 

Disappearance of Paralowie man Kenneth Camplin declared major crime by South Australia Police

MISSING Paralowie man Kenneth Camplin left his dog without food and water and the back door of his home open before vanishing without a trace.

Mr Camplin, known usually as Kenny, disappeared some time after waving to two unidentified men outside his Elder Crt home at 11am on Boxing Day.

The mystery men were described as thin with dark hair and aged in their 20s.

Four days later, his brother and a friend found "Kenny's'' back door open and his "beloved'' border collie-cross pet dog starving and thirsty.

The dog is now being cared for by friends.

Emotional friend Rob Gibbs, who has known Kenny since their school days, said in a videoed interview that leaving the dog starving and the house unlocked was "totally out of character''.

"It's not like Kenny to leave his dog and not answer his phone,'' Mr Gibbs said. "He's got a lot of friends worrying about him.''

Mr Camplin, 44, was close to his mother and several brothers.

Major Crime Detective Inspector Greg Hutchins said police had grounds to suspect he had met with foul play.

Police particularly want to speak to the men seen leaving Mr Camplin's home on December 26.

"(The) investigation has uncovered a few things which lead us to believe he has been the victim of foul play,'' Det-Insp Hutchins said.

"Mr Camplin was waving 'goodbye' to those males and everything seemed very amicable but we have not been able to identify who those males are.''

Det-Insp Hutchins would not release the details that led police to declare the case a major crime but said the unemployed Mr Camplin had no known history of drug taking or debts and no serious criminal convictions.

He also did not have any health issues to indicate he had depression.

Police said their concern for Mr Camplin was heightened because he was "very security minded and doted on his dog".

"He always locked his home and would never leave his dog to suffer,'' Det-Insp Hutchins said.

Elizabeth police say they have conducted extensive investigations - including accessing Mr Camplin's bank and telephone records - without turning up a trace of his whereabouts.

"We are really concerned about this missing person (because) no one has heard anything, and I mean anything, from him at all,'' Detective Chief Inspector Krystina Koza said at the weekend.

"He would normally let people know (where he was going) and we would have an idea of where he's gone but we have absolutely nothing.''

Chief-Insp Koza said Mr Camplin usually stayed near his home and kept to himself.

"We're just very, very concerned that this guy has gone missing," she said.

"Police have done extensive inquiries at places where he has visited or gone to in the past and we have got absolutely ... no sightings or communications from him since the 26th.

"He'd go camping but we have explored all of those (locations) and found nothing at all.

"We've gone through everything with a fine-tooth comb.''

Mr Camplin is 175cm tall and weighs 120kg with blue eyes, fair complexion, shoulder- length brown, wavy hair and is usually unshaven.

Anyone with information should call CrimeStoppers on 1800 333 000.

Police release CCTV vision showing last known sighting of missing Paralowie man Kenneth ‘Kenny’ Camplin

TWO men believed to be involved in the disappearance and suspected murder of Paralowie man Kenneth Camplin are lying to police, Major Crime detectives say.

The suspects were know to “Kenny’’ Camplin, 44, who was a “social’’ user and supplier of illegal drugs, but they are not coming clean about their full involvement with him, police say.

Mr Camplin vanished from his Elder Crt St home - where he lived alone - on December 27 last year, leaving the back door wide open, his car in the driveway and his beloved dog to fend for itself.

The dog was “near starvation’’ and thirsty when found several days later and taken into care, police said.

“We have two suspects who have been spoken to. We believe they are not being truthful with us,’’ Major Crime Inspector Greg Hutchins said. “It’s time to try to generate some further information and time to further advance the investigation.

“We’re always hopeful and we always work towards gathering that information to be able to charge someone.’’

Two other men seen at Mr Camplin’s house during the morning of December 26 have been ruled out of the investigation.

Police have released CCTV footage from a fast-food restaurant drive-through, showing the last known sighting of Mr Camplin, about 12.25am on Friday, December 27, — a few hours before he disappeared — and a separate photo of Mr Camplin.

Insp Hutchins said the motive for his suspected murder was not known but his involvement in illegal drugs “cannot be ruled out’’.

“There was no reason for him to go missing,’’ he said. “He loved his dog, the dog was near to starvation when found and (Camplin) just disappeared off the planet which does (lead) us to believe he was the victim of foul play.

 

“Particularly with all the media publicity we’ve had trying to find him.’’

Mr Camplin has not used his bank or other accounts since going missing.

No obvious signs of force were found at his home but forensic evidence was being analysed.

Detectives have spoken to many of Mr Camplin’s friends and associates to “develop a snapshot of his life’’.

“That snapshot has indicated he was a social user of illicit drugs and occasionally he would supply his friends with drugs,’’ Insp Hutchins said.

Insp Hutchins said it was important for anyone with information about Mr Camplin to come forward and assist investigators to locate his body and identify his killer, or killers.

Information can be given anonymously to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 orwww.sa.crimestoppers.com.au.

SA Police detectives plea for answers in Paralowie cold case killing of Kenny Camplin

It was a 42 minute period in the middle of the night in which Kenny Camplin’s life ended — and what happened to the Paralowie man in those early hours remains a complete mystery.

At 1.26am on December 27 in 2013 Paralowie man Kenny Camplin sent an innocuous text to a mate.

Just 42 minutes later, his mobile telephone was disconnected from its network.

Major Crime detectives believe it is highly likely the final moments of Mr Camplin’s life took place in that 42-minute window.

For all intents and purposes, Kenny Camplin died at 2.18am that day.

While detectives are certain he has been murdered, mystery surrounds almost every aspect of the case – including why he was killed, where he was killed and the whereabouts of his body.

Major Crime case officer Detective Brevet Sergeant Mike Newbury said Mr Camplin’s activities in the days leading up to his murder had provided no clues in the baffling case.

On Christmas Day, Mr Camplin, 44, travelled to the Barossa Valley to visit a friend at Lyndoch.

He returned to his Elder Ct home the next morning and made several calls to friends.

At 12.25am on December 27, CCTV captured him going through a nearby McDonald’s drive-through.

He went home from there – with the receipt from his purchase found at his home.

At 1.26am he sent the text to a mate. It was initially sent to the wrong phone number, as his mate had two phones. At 2.18 his phone disconnected.

It has never come back on and, like its owner, is also still missing.

“That is when the silence begins,’’ Detective Bvt Sgt Newbury said.

“From that point on he has had no access to his bank account, mobile phone and there are no sightings.

“Our concern is between that last text message at 1.26am and the 2.18am disconnection – a 42-minute window – something has happened to him.’’

Over the ensuing three days associates were trying to find him, but could not. It was not until Monday, December 30 that his brother and a close mate went to his home, only to find it open and Mr Camplin’s starving dog the only inhabitant.

A missing person’s report was filed at 3.10pm.

“He was particularly fond of his dog and this was seen as out of place,’’ Detective Bvt Sgt Newbury said.

“We do not know if he died at the house, did he voluntarily leave the house, we just don’t know.’’

While detectives do not have a firm motive as yet, investigations have discovered Mr Camplin had been involved in several minor disputes with different people at the time he vanished.

Further complicating the scenario is the fact Mr Camplin was known to police. He was a low-level drug dealer and user. He supplied friends and catered for parties.

And while many of his associates have been co-operative and assisting detectives, two have lied and obstructed the investigation.

This has obviously focused police attention on their motives for doing so, marking them as suspects.


 

“It certainly strikes us as unusual that people would not want to help when a mate has disappeared, but that does not mean they have done it,’’ Detective Bvt Sgt Newbury said. “They have lied and obstructed, but it is not clear why. They might not have been involved at all, it might just be these are people who for whatever reason have been given bad advice by friends.’’

The minor disputes Mr Camplin had been involved in ranged from “social issues’’ to one involving a former employer.

“There were girls coming and going that perhaps their boyfriends were not that happy about,’’ Detective Bvt Sgt Newbury said.

“We also know he had a WorkCover dispute going on as well, but whether these things had any bearing on what has happened we don’t know.

“There were a whole bunch of things going on, but we can’t at this point say what the significance of each was.’’

He said the fact several of Mr Camplin’s associates were obstructing the inquiry may be because of the fact they are also drug users and “want to protect their lifestyle from police intrusion’’.

“There are some people who desperately miss Kenny and know something is wrong and want police to get to the bottom of it,’’ Detective Bvt Sgt Newbury said.

“There are others who don’t particularly care one way or another and try to avoid participating.’’

Detectives have also had to deal with numerous rumours concerning possible motives that have been circulating within the drug community in the northern suburbs. Each has been investigated but none have been able to progress inquiry.

Detectives are hopeful a reward of up to $200,000 for a conviction in the case that is available may help solve it.

“Five years has now passed, relationships have moved on and I am certain that one or more people know exactly what happened and who did it,’’ Det. Bvt. Sgt. Newbury said.

“If they want the reward they should come forward. The money is there and we want people to claim it.’’

 

 

 

CASE PROFILE – KENNETH ‘KENNY’ CAMPLIN

Posted on 27/12/2020

Crimestoppers SA

 

While police are certain Kenneth ‘Kenny’ Camplin has been murdered, mystery surrounds almost every aspect of the case – including why he was killed, where he was killed and the whereabouts of his body.

Kenny was reported missing by his brother on 30 December 2013 his movements in the days leading up to his suspected murder had provided no clues in the baffling case.

His last known contact occurred at 1.26am on 27 December 2013 when the Paralowie man sent an SMS to a friend. Then 42 minutes later his mobile telephone was disconnected from its network.

It has never come back on and also remains missing.

On Christmas Day, Kenny travelled to the Barossa Valley to visit a friend at Lyndoch. He returned to his Elder Ct home the next morning and made several calls to friends.

At 12.25am on 27 December, CCTV captured him going through a nearby McDonald’s drive-through. It is believed he went home from there because the receipt from his purchase was found at his home.

After several days of trying to contact him, his brother and a close friend attended his home. They found the back door of the home unlocked of the normally security-conscious 44-year old and his dog in the back yard near death due to dehydration and starvation.

His bank account has not been accessed and there have been no sightings, leading police to be suspect that something has happened to him in the 42-minute window between that last text message at 1.26am about collecting a car part and the 2.18am disconnection.

While no firm motive has been found, investigations have discovered that he was caught up in a number of disputes, some of which were over girlfriends, as well as a Workcover dispute. It is unclear as to whether these had any bearing on his disappearance.

Further complicating the investigation is the fact that Kenny was a known low-level drug dealer and user. At least two of his associates have lied and obstructed the investigation, creating suspicion as to their motives for doing so.

A reward of up to $200,000 is on offer to anyone who either provides information leading to the recovery of his remains or information leading to a conviction in the case.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or at www.crimestopperssa.com.au

 

Watch a previous press conference by SA Police on this suspected murder at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ul4HOnV3mF