Detectives from the Missing Persons Squad are today releasing images and appealing for public information on the 30th anniversary of the suspicious disappearance of Mark Jansen.
31-year-old Mark was last seen in the car park at the rear of the Fruit City Complex on Pultney Street in Dandenong about 5pm on Saturday, 12 November 1994.
He co-owned a fresh fish shop located at the complex with his business partner.
When he left, he was seen getting into a car, a 1981-1985 yellow coloured Holden Gemini sedan, with unknown registration.
The vehicle was described as in poor condition and the hub caps were missing.
Two men and a woman were seen in the car with him.
At the time of his disappearance, Mark shared two young daughters with his ex-wife and was living in a caravan in Dandenong.
On March 13, 2014, partial skeletal remains were found after a fire in an isolated bushland area near Marysville resulted in an excavator being sent to help rehabilitate the land in an area in the Big River State Forest on Morris Road in Marysville.
Following DNA testing, the remains were confirmed to be that of Mark Jansen.
An extensive search of the bushland in Marysville was subsequently undertaken, however no further remains were located.
Police are aware that Mark had been declared bankrupt earlier that year and had incurred a number of debts to various people.
It is believed Mark might have also had some low-level involvement in trafficking drugs of dependence prior to his disappearance.
Investigators believe Mark met with foul play and are seeking public assistance to help identify those involved to be able to provide answers to Mark’s family.
Police have released images of Mark and a sketch of a sketch of the persons seen with Mark as well as an image of the vehicle in the hope someone can provide information on his movements in the lead up to his disappearance.
Investigators believe the two men and the woman seen in Mark’s vehicle with him will be able to assist with their enquiries and remain very keen to speak to them.
Despite a significant investigation over the past 30 years, no one has been charged in relation to Mark’s disappearance and the circumstances surrounding exactly what happened to him remain a mystery.
Anyone with information on Mark’s disappearance or the three people he was with is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 33 000 or submit a confidential report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au
Quotes attributable to Detective Inspector Dave Dunstan, Missing Persons Squad:
“To go thirty years without having any answers about what happened to your father or brother is almost unimaginable.
“Mark’s two daughters have had to grow up without ever really knowing their father, and there are so many milestones in their lives he never got to be a part of. No family should experience that.
“There will absolutely be people who know what happened to Mark and who is responsible, and we are appealing for those people to come forward and speak to police.
“It has been thirty years, but it is absolutely not too late to do the right thing. Any new information provided to police will be thoroughly investigated. Mark’s family deserves answers.”
