On the eve of the two-year anniversary of the murder of David Dick, Homicide Squad detectives are renewing their appeal for information on the whereabouts of his brother Jonathan Dick.
A warrant has been issued for Jonathan’s arrest in relation to David’s murder at a Doncaster shopping centre on 3 February, 2017.
Jonathan is also wanted in relation to a serious assault committed on 23 August last year in Keilor on a male associate of his.
A number of public appeals have been conducted by investigators for information on Jonathan’s whereabouts over the past two years.
This includes the announcement in October 2018 of a $100,000 reward for information leading to his arrests.
However despite these appeals and ongoing search efforts by police from the Homicide Squad and Fugitive Taskforce, Jonathan is yet to be located.
Officer in charge of the Homicide Squad, Detective Inspector Tim Day, said that in the past two years there have been over 300 calls from members of the public reporting possible sightings of Jonathan.
“We know that the public want to help us on this one and I strongly believe that public assistance will be what proves crucial in locating Jonathan,” he said.
“Unfortunately the Keilor assault is the only confirmed sighting we have had of him since he abandoned his car in Ivanhoe immediately after the murder of his brother David.
“Investigators believe that Jonathan is avoiding detection by using parks and reserves as access routes, and he may possibly have access to a bicycle as a mode of transport.
“Jonathan might also be using abandoned houses and buildings for shelter.
“His movements over the past two years are largely a mystery so again we are calling on people to be aware and on the lookout, especially in those parkland type areas.
“If you do see him then call triple zero immediately and we’d ask that where safe to do so, people should not approach him but attempt to keep him in their line of sight.”
Jonathan is described as being perceived to be of Caucasian appearance, about 176cm tall with a solid build and mousy brown hair.
Jonathan also has tattoos on his lower body and police are re-releasing images of those tattoos.
The first tattoo is a Wolverine v Sabre-tooth tattoo on his right thigh extending to his knee, while the second depicts the character the Incredible Hulk tattoo and is believed to be on his left calf.
Investigators are also re-releasing footage of Jonathan leaving the scene of the Keilor assault, along with images of his tattoos and computer generated images of how he is likely to look now with longer hair.
Detective Inspector Day said police still strongly believed Jonathan has been hiding in plain sight.
“The Keilor footage shows that he is clean shaven, has not lost a significant amount of weight and is wearing clean clothes, so we strongly believe he hasn’t been living on the street and is earning money,” he said.
“We want to know where he is staying, where he buys his food, how he’s earning money, how he’s getting around.
“We know that Jonathan is not a man who stands out and he is probably taking care to ensure he doesn’t.
“However, he will have to come into contact with members of the public at various times and we asking the community to be our eyes and ears.
“There is nothing at this stage to indicate that Jonathan is a risk to the wider community and previous incidents have involved people known to him.”
Detective Inspector Day said that finding Jonathan would also help try and give his grieving family some answers.
“I have absolutely no doubt that the past two years have been incredibly difficult for Jonathan and David’s family, particularly their mother and other brother,” he said.
“They have essentially lost two family members without really understanding why.
“Locating Jonathan would start the process of being able to give them some answers and that’s something investigators desperately want to be able to do.”
Police are appealing for Jonathan to hand himself in and urge anyone who sights Jonathan not to approach him but to call triple zero (000) immediately.
Anyone with any other information is urged to contact police via Crimestoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au
