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🇦🇺 Australia /Crime & Justice

Workmate of missing Jack McLennan says he's 'given police absolutely everything'

From ABC Australia · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • The workmate of missing Jack McLennan has spoken out amid community speculation about his involvement.
  • Chris Duke, the last known person to see McLennan, admits they consumed methamphetamine and alcohol before McLennan vanished.
  • Police have not named Duke as a person of interest, and he claims to have fully cooperated with the investigation.

Chris Duke, the last known person to see missing Queensland man Jack McLennan alive, has broken his public silence to address intense community speculation surrounding his role in the disappearance. Duke stated he was with McLennan around 10 p.m. on October 4, 2024, at Ficks Crossing, northwest of Brisbane, shortly before McLennan vanished.

All that stuff on Facebook … I don't even know where they come up with it.

— Chris DukeResponding to online accusations regarding his involvement in McLennan's disappearance.

In interviews with the ABC Unravel podcast 'What Became of Jack?', Duke confirmed that he and McLennan had consumed methamphetamine and alcohol together for at least eight hours that day. However, he vehemently denied online accusations of involvement in McLennan's disappearance, asserting his full cooperation with police investigations. Queensland Police have not officially declared Duke, or anyone else, a person of interest in the case.

I've worked with the detectives and the CIB (Criminal Investigation Branch) as much as I can.

— Chris DukeAsserting his cooperation with the police investigation.

Duke recounted that when he last saw McLennan, the missing man was cleaning his car. Upon looking up, Duke found McLennan had disappeared. The circumstances of McLennan's vanishing are compounded by the discovery of his belongings, including shoes, a hat, wallet, and bank card, scattered over a five-kilometer rural area in a seemingly random pattern. His phone and shirt remain missing, as do any human remains.

At the end of the day I don't even know where he went.

— Chris DukeDescribing the moment McLennan disappeared.

McLennan's family and supporters have expressed frustration with Duke, feeling he has not provided sufficient information. McLennan's mother, Kellie Moody, stated, "There's so many questions I've never had answered." Duke explained his cooperation with the family ceased when meetings became repetitive, accusatory, and threatening, leading to harassment of him and his family. He emphasized his extensive cooperation with detectives, providing clothes, vehicles, computers, and phones when requested.

There's so many questions I've never had answered.

— Kellie MoodyExpressing the family's ongoing need for answers about Jack McLennan's disappearance.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Australia. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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