When a loved one vanishes without a trace, a different kind of agony is felt — the agony of not knowing. Donny Govan has now been missing from Echuca for 10 years and his family hasn’t received any closure.
Born in 1996, Donny was 16 when he went missing from his campsite, north of Braund Rd, at 8.30pm on September 1, 2012.
He was believed to be under the influence of cannabis and alcohol when he ran away from his campsite after having a heated argument with his sister and friends.
It was his first time camping and his first day on the trip.
Echuca Detective Jason Hare has been involved with the case since it began.
He said it was a case he would never forget.
“It’s always something that stays on your mind,” Det Hare said.
“We’d like to be able to resolve it and offer some answers to the family.”
As to whether it was possible that answers could still be found, Det Hare said he didn’t know, but he really hoped so.
He explained that although the years had gone by and the case had evolved, it had always remained open.
“We still haven’t ruled out whether he is alive or not but obviously there have been concerns, given that he hasn’t been sighted anywhere,” he said.
“We’re at the stage now where we appeal to the public on the Missing Person’s Week and on the anniversary that he went missing.”
At the time that Donny went missing, an elderly woman said she gave breakfast to a young boy, who had appeared straight out of the bush, on September 2.
The woman said the boy had told her that he had stayed in the bush overnight and was on his way to Bendigo.
Det Hare said the woman was confident it was Donny that had been to her place.
“We want to take everyone at their word but there has been no other validation or corroboration of her account,” he said.
When asked if the woman’s description of the boy was similar to Donny, he said “to a degree”.
Det Hare urged anyone who may have any information about Donny Govan to call the Echuca Criminal Investigation Unit on 5483 1558.
“Come forward, the case is still open and we’re always open to receiving tips,” he said.
“We don’t want any stone left unturned.”