Ten years after the disappearance of Timothy Wallis

Pain never goes away: ten years since Timothy Wallis disappeared

Christmas is never easier for Christopher Lees.

A decade has passed since his younger brother Timothy Wallis, 26, disappeared.

He was last seen in Dunedin in August 2010. After six years and no sightings, the coroner declared him dead in 2016.

He has never been located and the cause of his death is unknown.

After a decade of pain, all his family wanted was closure, Lees said.

“Ten years is a long time.

“We have suffered for years and years trying to find it; not knowing is the most difficult thing.”

The missing person report was filed in 2015 after he was unable to communicate with his brother about a death in the family, Lees said.

A subsequent police investigation was unsuccessful.

“Honestly, I don’t know what happened. We never got any information about it.

“He had some [mental health] things that happen … It was quite transitory, it moved a lot. He loved to hitchhike across the country, but he could always be found. “

After the birth of Lees’ son in Christchurch in 2008, Wallis visited. It was the last time Lees saw his brother.

His brother was a generous, fun-loving man who was always up for an adventure, he said.

“We grew up in different homes, but as we got older we saw each other more often.”

Wallis had two children, a 10-year-old and an 18. They both had questions about what happened to their father, he said.

“Timmy has two children who just want to know where their dad is or what happened … His last photo was taken with his son, who was born a few weeks before he disappeared.

“Christmas is not the same as wondering where it is.”

The family still celebrated his birthday every February.

Lees said he struggled to live with regrets when it came to his brother.

“There was so much we needed to talk about and I’ll never be able to say those things.

“The pain never goes away. We all feel powerless.”

A police investigation in 2015 could find no evidence that he was alive and the case was referred to the coroner.

A forensic report published in 2016 ruled on the basis of the evidence that the 26-year-old had died, but the cause of his death remains unknown.

He said he was last seen on August 6, 2010, did not have a passport, and despite having a transitional lifestyle, he had not been in contact with people who expected to hear from him since.

Wallis had several distinctive tattoos, including a pentagram on the back of his left hand, graffiti-style letters on his neck, and a tiger on his right cheek.

Lees encouraged anyone with information to contact the police.