Michael John MODESTI
Michael John MODESTI
Michael John Modesti last spoke to his girlfriend by telephone on the evening of 8 May 2016. At this time he was at his home address in Beverley, SA. It is believed Michael left his home sometime after 8.30 am the following morning in his dark blue 2005 Mitsubishi Magna 360 sedan (SA registration, XPC-764).
He was reported missing by his family later than evening after they attended his home address found the television on and Michael’s personal possessions inside, however Michael was not located. His vehicle was found 3 days later parked at West Croydon. The car was unsecured and parked about 15 metres south of Torrens Road. This location is about 3 kilometres north of his home address.
Mr Modesti has no prior history of going missing and it is highly unusual for him not to have made contact with family or friends. The circumstances of his disappearance are subject to investigation and foul play is suspected.
If you have information that may assist police in Michael's disappearance please call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
REWARD up to $200,000
Michael John Modesti, was 33 years of age when he went missing from his home address at Willsmore Street, Beverley on Monday, 9 May, 2016. There was nil evidence of a disturbance at his home address. His blue Magna 360 model sedan, SA registered XPC-764, was found parked and abandoned in Chenoweth Avenue, West Croydon, near Torrens Road, on Wednesday, 11 May, 2016.
It is known the vehicle was left at that location sometime between 9.30 a.m. and 10.30 a.m. on that date. His disappearance was declared a major crime and suspected murder investigation on Monday 23 May, 2016. His disappearance is suspected to be drug related and may have links to a visit to Thailand that Mr Modesti had undertaken between Tuesday, 26 April, 2016 and Friday, 6 May, 2016 – 3 days prior to his disappearance.
Police have identified persons of interest in regard to Mr Modesti’s disappearance and investigations are on-going. At this time there is insufficient information to charge any person/s with Mr Modesti’s murder or identify a possible location of his remains.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on
1 800 333 000, on-line or email
an investigator.
IN all likelihood, there are less than a handful of people who know what happened to missing Beverley father Michael Modesti.
Each of them is a close associate. One them destroyed potential evidence out of self-interest, another may even be responsible for his death.
What started as a missing persons case two years ago has now developed into a true murder mystery that offers many tantalising clues.
There are suggestions of an international drug operation, a possible motive, a missing “burner’’ phone and even a suspect, but so far no conclusion.
Michael Modesti, 33, the doting father of a boy now aged five, is believed to have vanished from his home at 8.15am on Monday, May 9, 2016. His Mitsubishi 380 was left abandoned on Chenoweth Ave, West Croydon, several hours later.
Initially investigated as a missing person after his family raised concerns, Major Crime detectives were called in as evidence emerged indicating his disappearance may be far more sinister.
Investigations have discovered he was a player in a drug ring operating in Adelaide’s western suburbs that is headed by a close associate – the man detectives are now focusing their attention on.
Detectives are now convinced a trip Mr Modesti took to Thailand the week before he vanished is somehow linked to his murder.
Major Crime case officer Detective Senior Sergeant Mark McEachern said the case was complicated and difficult.
“We have a suspect and continue to investigate him,’’ he said. “The man is a close associate of Michael’s and we believe they were involved in some sort of drug enterprise together, possibly with links overseas.’’
Detectives believe the man had intended to travel to Thailand with him but pulled out at short notice.
Both have backgrounds in trades – Mr Modesti was a tiler – but that was not what brought them together, particularly in the two years leading up to Michael’s disappearance.
The trip, detectives suspect, may have been a catalyst for events that followed after his return.
While Mr Modesti told his family he was attending a trade show because he planned to start importing silicone for use in his tiling business, it is a story that does not wash with police.
Why would a tiler suddenly decide to import silicone that he can buy from Bunnings for $8 a tube? The only answer is, he wouldn’t.
“We have suspected from early on that it was for some sort of drug-related activity that was going on in Thailand,’’ Snr Sgt McEachern said. “Even though we have no direct evidence of that, our suspicion remains that was some sort of trip maybe involving an importation of some kind, such as methamphetamines or precursors, we are not sure.’’
Adding suspicion to this is the fact Mr Modesti and his associates were semi-regular visitors to Thailand.
While Mr Modesti lived a modest lifestyle, there is evidence his associate lived well beyond his means.
“The lifestyle that he is leading is part of our investigation and will be ongoing,’’ Snr Sgt McEachern said.
Detectives believe they have tracked Mr Modesti’s movements accurately since he arrived back in Adelaide from Thailand on Friday, May 6 and are confident of the time he left his home, either with his killer or to meet him.
Although there was no sign of a disturbance at his house, which was left locked, it is possible he may have been taken by force. He left his wallet and legitimate mobile phone there, the TV was on and the blinds up.
While there was no positive sighting of Mr Modesti after he left his house, his car was sighted parked in a West Croydon street several hours later. It was found by members of his family on the morning of Wednesday, May 11, and reported to police.
However, detectives are aware Mr Modesti’s “burner’’ phone – used to conduct drug transactions – was removed from the car sometime between when it was found in Chenoweth St and when police examined it.
An associate of Mr Modesti’s removed it and it was apparently disposed of in a drain at Prospect, but a search of drains in the area proved fruitless.
“It hindered our inquiry. We had to do a lot of work, a lot of inquiries were made in relation to that phone and its relevance to the investigation,’’ Snr Sgt McEachern said.
“We are unsure what, if any evidence it would give us into Michael’s disappearance, but the fact it existed and why it was disposed of adds suspicion to the drug relationship that was going on.’’
It is highly likely the associates who took the phone from the car and disposed of it hold the key to solving the mystery.
“Certainly the person who disposed of it has knowledge of drug activity which we believe would lead to why he disappeared,’’ he said.
“I suspect the drug activity will take us to the motivation that led to his disappearance and who was involved.’’
As is the case with all organised crime investigations, the reluctance of witnesses to co-operate with police for fear of retribution hampers progress. In this instance, the fact very few people are aware has compounded the problem.
Detectives are hoping a new $200,000 reward for information on the case will assist. The reward is available not just for anyone who helps solve the case, but assists in the recovery of Mr Modesti’s body.
ANYONE WITH INFORMATION ON THIS CASE CAN CALL CRIME STOPPERS ON 1800 333 000
THE family of missing Beverley man Michael Modesti have spoken of their grief and sadness, following his suspected murder two years ago.
THE family of missing Beverley father Michael Modesti have spoken of their emptiness and ’ since he vanished two years ago.
Mr Modesti’s mother Gail said she was often engulfed by a “great sadness’’ that was often triggered by a photograph or a thought of her son, whom police believe has been murdered.
“I remember ‘that’ day clearly. Receiving ‘that’ phone call while interstate was devastating and panic immediately set in … our lives were changed forever,’’ Ms Modesti said.
“A life without Michael, for us as his mum and dad, leaves a void of gut wrenching emptiness and grief.”
A great sadness often engulfs us triggered by a simple thought or photo.
“Like when I see a car that is the same as his, my heart misses a beat and I panic trying to see if it’s him behind the wheel … then I tell myself to breathe.
“I can’t help but cry inside and say ‘Where are you Michael?’’
Mr Modesti, 33, the doting father of a boy now aged five, is believed to have vanished from his home at 8.15am on Monday, May 9, 2016.
His Mitsubishi 380 was left abandoned on Chenoweth Ave, West Croydon, several hours later.
He was initially investigated as a missing person case after his family raised concerns but Major Crime detectives were called in as evidence emerged indicating his disappearance may be far more sinister.
Investigations have discovered he was a player in a drug ring operating in Adelaide’s western suburbs that is headed by a close associate — the man detectives are now focusing their attention on.
Detectives are now convinced a trip Mr Modesti took to Thailand the week before he vanished is somehow linked to his murder.
Michael’s sister, Gisella Hardy, said she remembered him as a perfectionist who loved spending time with his family — and his own son.
“Any outsider looking in would instantly see the love he had for his son — it was adoring and protective. It was fun and filled with friendship. Their bond was strong,’’ she said.
“They loved each other’s company, and if Michael could have given his son the world he would of.’’
She said the emotional and physical burden of living without Michael was “relentless.’’
“You often blame yourself, then you blame others. You are angry, you are frustrated. You feel helpless, you feel hopeless. It doesn’t get any easier, you just learn to manage better,’’ she said.
“Each of us look at things differently now. We capture the moments. We cherish the time. We hold each other together.’’
Anyone with any information on Mr Modesti is urged to call Crimestoppers on 1800333000.
Posted on 09/05/2020 Crimestoppers SA
Today marks four years since the disappearance and suspected murder of Michael Modesti.
Less than a handful of people are thought to know exactly what happened to the devoted family man, but reluctance is holding back witnesses from sharing what they know.
The father of one was last seen leaving his home address at Willsmore Street, Beverley at 8.15am on Monday, 9 May 2016.
There was no evidence of a disturbance at his home address, with a legitimate mobile phone and his wallet left behind at the locked property. The blinds were up, dishes in the sink and the TV had been left on.
The 33-year old’s disappearance was declared a major crime and suspected murder investigation on Monday 23 May 2016.
Mr Modesti was not considered to be a hardened criminal, although he was known to have had minor involvement with cannabis over the years.
Investigators now believe that Mr Modesti has been murdered because of involvement in the drug trade.
His sudden disappearance occurred only several days after returning from Thailand. While there is no direct evidence to confirm, investigators suspect some sort of drug involvement in the overseas trip, possibly the importation of methylamphetamine or a precursor drug.
Mr Modesti’s movements have been tracked since arriving back in Adelaide from Thailand on Friday, May 6 and police are confident that when he left his home it was either with his killer or to meet him.
An associate of Mr Modesti remains a suspect in the case, with investigators believing that the pair had been in a drug enterprise together, possibly with links overseas.
The associate is believed to have intended travelling to Thailand
with him but pulled out at short notice. He
has been interviewed and his property searched, but more evidence is needed.
Mr Modesti’s blue Magna 360 model sedan (SA registered XPC-764) was found abandoned two days later in Chenoweth Avenue, West Croydon, near Torrens Road.
Police believe that people known to him had removed evidence from the vehicle which could have assisted the investigation.
Investigators believe an associate of Mr Modesti removed a burner mobile from the car and disposed of it in a storm water drain near the Livingstone and Hillsdale street roundabout in Prospect. A search of drains in the area has failed to find the phone.
A $200,000 reward remains on offer for information that leads to a conviction in this case and/or the recovery of Mr Modesti’s body.
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