Coroner seeks witnesses to sightings of Jodus Murphy in May 2023

Victorian Coroner John Olle is seeking assistance tracking the final movements of an 18-year-old man found deceased on the banks of the Goulburn River in Seymour on 14 June 2023.

Jodus Murphy was last seen alive on Monday, 15 May 2023 between 7:30am and 9am in the vicinity of Abdallah Road, Tarcombe Road, Kennedy Court and surrounding streets in Seymour.

On the one-year anniversary of Jodus’ disappearance, His Honour is appealing to any witnesses who may have seen Jodus in May 2023 to come forward.

To assist, Coroner Olle has released two images of Jodus taken by witnesses in Seymour on 14-15 May 2023.

The investigation into Jodus’ disappearance and subsequent death has established the following timeline of his last known movements:

In the early hours of Friday 12 May 2023, Jodus left his home address in Seaford where he lived with his mother and siblings. His family reported him missing to Frankston Police Station two days later and a missing persons investigation commenced.
On the evening of Sunday 14 May 2023, Jodus was captured on CCTV at Seymour Railway Station where he asked two young males what time the next train to Murchison was. There were no trains scheduled that night and Jodus accepted an offer from one of the males to stay overnight at his address in Seymour.
The following morning, Monday 15 May 2023, Jodus left that address and was sighted by three unrelated witnesses in the vicinity of Abdallah Road, Tarcombe Road, Kennedy Court and surrounding streets in Seymour – these are the last reported sightings of Jodus alive.
Two days later, on Wednesday 17 May 2023, two separate withdrawals were made from Jodus’ bank account via a Seymour ATM. Victoria Police have identified the male captured on CCTV making the withdrawals and confirmed it was not Jodus.
One month later on 14 June 2023, Jodus’ body was located on the banks of the Goulburn River, Seymour.

Anyone with information or who may have seen Jodus in or around Seymour in May 2023 is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.

For access to the images released of Jodus, please contact:

T: 0407 403 371

E: mediaenquiries@courts.vic.gov.au