Missing man Sam Robert Price-Purcell’s disappearance being treated as suspicious by police
A MAN who vanished in 2015 is now thought to have been murdered, after his associates came forward to police with new information earlier this year.
Homicide Squad detectives are now trying to piece together Sam Price-Purcell’s final moments on February 16 of that year.
It is believed he was killed somewhere in north Brisbane, from Fortitude Valley to Mitchelton.
Mr Price-Purcell, 25, who is also known simply as Sam Price, was from a good upbringing, Detective Inspector Damien Hansen said.
But he fell into a life of crime and was couch-surfing in the months leading up to his suspected murder.
Police have described him as being involved as in “mid-level” drug-dealing.
“Certain persons... have given us versions of what’s occurred,” Det Insp Hansen said.
Police remain uncertain about Mr Price-Purcell’s final resting place, however.
Det Insp Hansen said homicide detectives became involved in the two-and-a-half-year missing persons investigation two months ago.
Since then, a plethora of information has been received, and detectives are now trying to work out what is fact and what is rumour.
“(Mr Price-Purcell) had gone off the rails,” Det Inp Hansen said.
“He did get into a bad element. But he comes from a good family.”
Police are willing to offer witness protection and other incentives for information about Mr Price-Purcell death.
Anyone with information should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 00
Mother of Brisbane man Sam Robert Price-Purcell makes plea to find son's remains
Updated
A mother who believes her son was murdered has made an emotional plea to the people responsible for covering up his suspected death, begging them to come forward so her grieving family can have closure.
Sam Robert Price-Purcell was in the north Brisbane suburb of Mitchelton area on February 16, 2015, but police believe he then travelled in a yellow Holden Commodore to Toowoomba on Queensland's Darling Downs.
The 25-year-old has not been seen since, and homicide investigators believe he met with foul play.
On the third anniversary of his disappearance, his mother Leonie Price urged anyone with information to approach police.
"Our whole family grieve for him every day — he's in our hearts and our thoughts everyday — we need to know what happened so we can have peace," she said.
"People tell me that it gets easier with time, but it doesn't."
Police have previously said Mr Price-Purcell came from a good family, but "got mixed up in the wrong crowd" and was involved in drugs.
Today they released images of a 2000 Subaru WRX — which was originally white but was believed to have been painted pale or sky blue — they said was linked to the case.
That vehicle has not been located.
Detective Inspector Damien Hansen said there were several persons of interest, and investigators believed several others helped cover up the killing.
"Some of these persons are no longer mixing in these circles — they've moved on with their life, they've started families," he said.
"This will not go away — I'd encourage these people to come forward."
Inspector Hansen declined to answer further questions about the motive behind the suspected killing, or where police believe Mr Price-Purcell's remains were.
Anyone with information should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Family appeals for information on third anniversary of disappearance
Police investigators and the mother of missing man, Sam Robert Price-Purcell will today appeal to the community for information on the third anniversary of his disappearance.
On the afternoon of Monday February 16, 2015 Mr Price Purcell then 25, was last seen in the Mitchelton area getting into a bright yellow 2010 Holden Commodore SS sedan (actual pictured).
It is believed Sam travelled to the Toowoomba area. He has not been seen since and police believe he has been murdered.
As part of today’s appeal, police are seeking assistance to locate a 2000 Subaru WRX sedan, originally white in colour (similar to pictured) but believed to have been later painted pale or sky blue with a large black spoiler. The vehicle was seen in the Toowoomba area in September 2015.
“We are very encouraged by those persons who have already come forward with information and would encourage anyone else who may be able to provide further information regarding Sam’s disappearance, the yellow Commodore or the WRX to contact police or Crime Stoppers,” Detective Inspector Damien Hansen of the Homicide Group said.
If you have information for police, contact Policelink on 131 444 or provide information using the online form 24hrs per day.
You can report information about crime anonymously to Crime Stoppers, a registered charity and community volunteer organisation, by calling 1800 333 000 or via crimestoppersqld.com.au 24hrs per day.
Mother's heartbreaking plea to help son's murder investigation
She knows she'll never see him again, but Sam Robert Price-Purcell's mother won't stop seeking answers about her son's disappearance and death.
Mr Price-Purcell was last seen getting into a bright yellow Holden Commodore sedan in north Brisbane on February 16, 2015.
Three years on, his mother Leoni Price is appealing for information.
Ms Price said the loss of her 25-year-old son was something the family continued to struggle to come to terms with.
"Our whole family grieve for him every day," Ms Price told reporters.
"He's in our hearts and our thoughts every day, and we need to know what happened so that we can have some peace."
Police believe Mr Price-Purcell, better known as Sam Price, was driven in the Commodore to the Toowoomba area where they say he was murdered.
Ms Price said she accepted her "stunning, funny, quirky, sporty, amazing" son wasn't coming home.
"People tell me it gets easier with time but it doesn't," she said.
"It changes with time and the realisation slowly comes that we'll never see him again.
"That's a milestone, but it's an incredibly difficult thing to have to come to terms with. The emptiness that I feel, his loss has just left a massive hole in our hearts."
Police are seeking information on the movements of the yellow Commodore around the time of Mr Price-Purcell's disappearance.
They have also issued an appeal to locate a 2000 Subaru WRX sedan, originally white in colour, but since believed to have been painted pale or sky blue with a large black spoiler.
The vehicle was seen in the Toowoomba area in September 2015.
Detective Inspector Damien Hansen said those involved in Mr Price-Purcell's death had a limited opportunity to come forward and assist police, with a group of people of interest on their radar.
"Some of those people are no longer mixing in those circles, they've moved on with their lives, they've started families," he said.
"This will not go away. I would encourage those people to come forward."
Man charged over alleged murder of Brisbane man Sam Price-Purcell missing since 2015
By Elaine Ford and staff
A 36-year-old has been charged over the alleged murder of Brisbane man Sam Price-Purcell in what police have described as a "crucial breakthrough" in the case.
Michael Jay Evans did not appear in the Toowoomba Magistrates Court today when he was formally charged with murder, interfering with a corpse and arson.
Sam Price-Purcell, 25, was in the Mitchelton area in Brisbane's north on February 16, 2015, but police believe he then travelled in a yellow Holden Commodore to Toowoomba on Queensland's Darling Downs.
He has not been seen since, and homicide investigators believe he met with foul play.
Homicide Detective Acting Inspector David Nicoll said the alleged murder was motivated by an unpaid debt, and that Mr Price-Purcell and Mr Evans were associates.
"The exact nature of their association is still under investigation," he said.
"There are a number of other suspects for this investigation and police are committed to bringing all of those responsible for Sam's murder before the courts.
"We believe there was a number of people involved in his actual murder and there was at least one other who was an accessory."
Acting Inspector Nicoll said there was a core team of about eight investigators who had been working extensively on the case for a year.
"It's very pleasing to be able to solve an offence such as this and very pleasing to be able to make that phone call to the next of kin and advise them," he said.
Police have made several enquiries during the investigation, including the forensic examination last Friday of a yellow vehicle suspected of being involved in the crime.
Officers also searched properties at Leyburn and Helidon earlier this year.
Detectives charged Mr Evans this morning with Mr Price-Purcell's murder.
The Leyburn man's case was adjourned until September 10 when he is expected to appear in the Brisbane Magistrates Court.
Victim's remains not yet found
Acting Inspector David Nicoll said the arrest was "a crucial breakthrough for us" after a comprehensive investigation by detectives.
"We would like to thank those members of the community who came forward and provided us with information and assistance in this case," he said.
"However while this arrest is certainly a significant breakthrough for us, it does not mark the end."
He said Mr Price-Purcell's remains had not yet been found.
"We still have more work to do and remain committed to bringing all those responsible for Sam's murder before the court," he said.
Police have previously said Mr Price-Purcell came from a good family, but "got mixed up in the wrong crowd" and was involved in drugs.
Second man charged over alleged murder of Brisbane man Sam Price-Purcell
By Elaine Ford and staff
A second man has been charged with murder over the disappearance of Brisbane man Sam Price-Purcell, who has been missing since 2015.
Mr Price-Purcell, 25, was in the Mitchelton area in Brisbane's north on February 16, 2015, but police believe he then travelled in a yellow Holden Commodore to Toowoomba on Queensland's Darling Downs.
He has not been seen since, and homicide investigators believe he met with foul play.
Mr Price-Purcell's remains have not been found.
On Saturday a 29-year-old man from Roma in south-west Queensland was charged with one count each of murder and misconduct with a corpse.
Police said the 29-year-old man would appear at the Roma Magistrates Court on June 11.
Earlier this week a 36-year-old man from Leyburn was charged with Mr Price-Purcell's alleged murder.
He appeared before the Toowoomba Magistrates Court and will reappear on September 10.
Accused cold case killers get new court date
Two men police accuse of murdering Brisbane man Sam Price-Purcell are set to face court later this month.
TWO men police accuse of murdering Brisbane man Sam Price-Purcell have new court dates as their matters progress through the legal system.
Michael Jay Evans, 36, and Owen James Harris, 29, were both charged with murder and interfering with a corpse last year after a three-year-long investigation by police.
Harris' matters were adjourned in the city's Magistrates Court to February 13, while Evans' next court date has been set for February 21.
Evans is also facing a further arson charge.
Harris' solicitor Phil Stainton of Legal Aid Queensland today told the court there was still material missing from the police brief of evidence against his client.
Legal representatives from Brisbane acting on behalf of Evans did not physically appear in the Toowoomba Courthouse, though police prosecutor Nikola Prince accepted the matter could be adjourned in their absence.
The probe for answers in relation to Mr Price-Purcell's 2015 disappearance came to a head last year on the anniversary of his vanishing.
An emotional appeal from his mother Leonie prompted a slew of tip-offs from members of the public.
Information led police to the recovery of the car Sam Price-Purcell was last seen getting into.
From there, searches at properties in Leyburn and Helidon were also conducted.
He was seen entering the yellow Commodore in the company of others travelling toward the Toowoomba region.
Evans was arrested and charged last July in a major breakthrough in the case, while Harris was arrested in Roma and subsequently charged about a week later.