Teodor Imrich MASTIHUBA

  

Help sought in search for missing elderly man – Sydney / Western Australia

Wednesday, 07 Jan 2009 12:06pm


New South Wales police are seeking the public’s help to locate an elderly man missing for 25years.

Teodor Imrich Mastihuba, a Slovakian national who would be turning 81 this year, was reported missing on 6 September 1983 by his then flatmate, Leo Lewis, after he did not return to his Marsfield home for two days.

At the time of his disappearance, Mr Mastihuba had left home with only a briefcase.

Mr Mastihuba arrived in Australia in 1968 and until his disappearance owned and operated a photography business in Eastwood with two employees.

In August 1998 a number of items believed to have belonged to Mr Mastihuba were located at Emma Gorge in far north Western Australia. These items included a Czechoslovakian passport, a Czechoslovakian identification card and a Czechoslovakian driver’s licence, as well as a number of bank books, a pair of shoes and a damaged photograph. It is believed the items had been at this location since before 1992.

Mr Mastihuba has no known relatives in Australia and is described as being of white/European appearance, 5’6”tall with brown eyes and black hair.

Anyone with information about Mr Mastihuba’s whereabouts, or who may have known Mr Mastihuba at the time of his disappearance, is urged to contact Eastwood Police 9858-5944 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

In particular, police would like to speak with Mr Mastihuba’s former flatmate, Leo Lewis, as well as the two employees of his photography business.
 

Case reopened 25 years after man vanished

Posted Fri Jan 9, 2009 10:35am AEDT - ABC

Police in New South Wales have reopened a missing persons case that has puzzled them for more than 25 years.

Teodor Imrich Mastihuba vanished from his Sydney home in September 1983, carrying only his briefcase.

Detectives were baffled when his passport, drivers licence and shoes were discovered years later at Emma Gorge, in Western Australia's far north.

Police spokesman Michael Levy says they have never been able to explain how the items got there.

"It's believed the items have been at this location since before 1992," he said.

Mr Mastihuba would be turning 81 this year.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

 

Help needed to sove 25-year missing persons mystery

Article from: PerthNow

January 07, 2009 12:00pm

NEW South Wales police want help to solve a 25-year mystery of a man whose belongings were found in the far north of WA almost two decades after he vanished.

Teodor Imrich Mastihuba, a Slovakian national who would  turn 81 this year, was reported missing on September 6, 1983 after he failed to return to his home in Marsfield, NSW.

His belongings, including a Czechoslovakian passport, identity card and driver's licence, were discovered at Emma Gorge in the  Kimberley in August 1998.

Police believe the items were left there before 1992.

Mr Mastihuba has no known relatives in Australia and was carrying only a briefcase at the time of his disappearance.

Anyone with information which could help locate Mr Mastihuba or shed light on what has happened to him is urged to contact Eastwood police on 02 9858-5944 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Police particularly want to speak with Mr Mastihuba’s former flatmate, Leo Lewis, and two employees at his former photography business.

Croc death mystery

A MAN who left his home in Sydney's northwest with only a briefcase was probably eaten by a crocodile at a remote Top End gorge.

The bizarre case of Teodor Mastihuba has been a mystery for 25 years but police are now trying to piece together how the photography shop owner made it from Marsfield to Emma Gorge, about 700km southwest of Darwin near the Northern Territory/Western Australia border.

His flatmate reported him missing in September 1983 when he failed to turn up for work but the trail went cold until a man known only as Chris found Mr Mastihuba's Czechoslovakian passport next to a makeshift shelter at the Gorge in August 1998.

Detective Senior Constable Scott Tindale is investigating Mr Mastihuba's disappearance for the coroner.

"There was reported to be a man-made shelter at Emma Gorge, the items were a Czech passport, a Czechoslovakian driver's licence, some shoes and a couple of photographs," he said.

"We suspect he is more than likely deceased. We have reports that Emma Gorge is infested with crocodiles.

"Investigating police in WA are of the opinion he has either taken his own life or has been taken by a crocodile."

Police are unsure how Mr Mastihuba made it to WA. He owned a 1971 Volkswagen but it was never correctly registered with the RTA.

His complicated life story has begun to emerge during the investigation.

He migrated to Australia in 1968 and opened a photographic shop.

Interpol has tracked down his ex-wife and son Milan, who is now aged about 50.

He had not heard from his father since he was aged nine, when his father left what was then Czechoslovakia.

"They have not heard or had any correspondence since he emigrated in 1968," Sen-Const Tindale said.

He said Mr Mastihuba's flatmate Leo Lewis, who lived with him in Crimea Rd and saw him leave home with his briefcase, and his two employees at the photographic shop might be able to help piece together the mystery.

Sen-Const Tindale stressed Mr Lewis and the workers were not suspects and the disappearance was not considered suspicious.

Missing since 1983

Todd Dagwell, Northern District Times

Jan 14th 2009
 

EASTWOOD police are searching for a Slovakian man who went missing from Marsfield 25 years ago.

Teodor Imrich Mastihuba, a Slovakian national who would have turned 81 this year, was reported missing on September 6, 1983, by his flatmate, Leo Lewis. Mr Mastihuba owned and operated a photography business in Eastwood and on the day of his disappearance left his Marsfield home with only a briefcase. His flatmate reported him missing two days later. Mr Mastihuba arrived in Australia in 1968 and has no known relatives in the country. In August 1998 a number of items believed to have belonged to Mr Mastihuba were located in far north Western Australia.

These included a Czechoslovakian passport, a Czechoslovakian identification card and a Czechoslovakian driver’s licence. A number of bank books, a pair of shoes and a damaged photograph were also discovered. Police believe these items had been at that location since 1992. Mr Mastihuba is described as being of white/European appearance, 168cm tall with brown eyes and black hair.

Anyone with information about Mr Mastihuba’s whereabouts is urged to contact Eastwood Police on 9858 5944 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. Police are particularly eager to talk to his former flatmate, Leo Lewis, as well as the two employees of his photography business.