The death of a young Melbourne man who was found in a magic mushroom field with an 18cm hunting knife in his chest was initially treated as non-suspicious.
But there is now a disturbing theory behind how 26-year-old Jackson Stacker died, whose badly decomposed body was found under a tree on August 25, 2021, with his scalp and dreadlocks found separately.
When Mr Stacker’s body was found in Pottsville in New South Wales’ Tweed Shire, police believed it was a suicide, but at an inquest in Lismore on Monday, a police officer was asked if there was a more sinister explanation.
Byron Bay Detective Donna Tutt was asked if she was aware of human sacrifices or cults in the northern New South Wales area, but said she was not aware of any.
Stacker’s mother, Sandey MacFarlane, insists her son did not take his own life and says there was no history of suicide or poor mental health in her family.
There is a disturbing theory behind how Jackson Stacker (pictured) died, whose body was found badly decomposed under a tree on August 25, 2021.
Stacker’s mother, Sandey MacFarlane, insists her son did not take his own life and says there was no history of suicide or poor mental health in her family.
MacFarlane said Stacker had never told him he was depressed and there was no note or evidence to suggest it was a suicide.
“I don’t think my son would have taken his life, he had so many things ahead of him,” she told the inquest into his death. Byron News reported.
The last time she spoke to him was on July 22, 2021, he seemed anxious and mentioned that he had lost his job.
A few days later, he deposited $300 into his bank account and wrote “call me” in the payment description.
When she didn’t receive a response from him, she became worried, but she didn’t tell anyone else about her fears because she didn’t want to cause panic.
Ms MacFarlane was unable to get through when she tried to call her son and said it sounded like his phone was off.
Stacker, who had been traveling in his Toyota Hiace van since 2020, was reported missing by his family on August 23, 2021 after a person contacted them to purchase his abandoned vehicle.
The inquest heard that when his skeletal remains were found two days later, he was face down, covered by his fur coat and with the 18cm blade protruding from his chest.
His scalp and dreadlocks were found separately, some teeth were missing and his boots were found meters from his body.
But a fox or a wild dog could have been to blame for the condition of the body, which may have been in a field 40 kilometers north of Byron Bay for up to a month, the inquest heard.
Detective Tutt said the type of knife found in the deceased’s chest was a common type used by someone camping or living in a van.
State Coroner Magistrate Teresa O’Sullivan heard that valuable items including a phone, laptop and Nikon camera were missing from Mr Stacker’s van.
His friend John Winegarden said Stacker visited his home in Nimbin in early August 2021 to pick up tools.
“I was angry about the whole Covid lockdown, I wasn’t happy that I couldn’t do what I wanted,” he said, the Byron News reported.
Winegarden said he told his friend he could stay with him, but he said no, he was going to Byron Bay beach.
He said he found Mr Stacker’s behavior “strange”. “He seemed upset…he wasn’t a happy-go-lucky Jackson…he was definitely quite depressed.”
Jackson Stacker was traveling in his Toyota Hiace pickup truck (pictured) since 2020
The last time his mother spoke to Stacker (pictured) was on July 22, 2021, and he seemed anxious and mentioned that he had lost his job.
He said he later saw the Hiace van on a Facebook page, but couldn’t remember when because he had done “too much weed, mate.”
Mia Kieis, 25, another friend of Mr Stacker, told the inquest about a time when she appeared to be in a manic state and had worrying thoughts.
She also said that her friend sometimes felt depressed and very affected by a murder-suicide involving a person they both knew.
The investigation continues.
Tragic deaths and disappearances in and around Byron Bay
Theo Hayez
Theo, an 18-year-old Belgian backpacker, disappeared after a night out at Cheeky Monkeys nightclub in May 2019.
He was not reported missing for five days.
In June 2020, Hayez’s cousin Lisa revealed that Google data had tracked him walking through dense bush on the night of his disappearance, and suggested he could not have done it alone.
The strongest theory about Mr Hayez’s disappearance remains that the backpacker fell off a cliff and was swept out to sea.
Théo Hayez disappeared from Byron Bay on May 31, 2019 and has not been seen since.
Teresa Liddle
Liddle, 42, was last seen in the Mooball area, between Byron Bay and Tweed Heads, in October 2019.
The former microbiologist was homeless in Byron Bay and living a transient lifestyle before her death.
Police came across his remains in July 2020 while searching for Hayez.
Liddle, 42, was last seen in the Mooball area, between Byron Bay and Tweed Heads, in October 2019.
Erwan Ferrieux and Hugo Palmer
Erwan Ferrieux and his British friend Hugo Palmer, both 20, were reported missing during the holiday of a lifetime in 2019.
Police feared they had drowned in Port Macquarie after their belongings were found in the sand at Shelly Beach.
In June 2019, two human bones turned up, and forensic tests revealed that they are likely those of Mr Ferrieux.
Mr Palmer’s femur bone was discovered in the sea by a spearfisherman and DNA testing revealed it belonged to him.
Hugo Palmer (left) and Erwan Ferrieux (right) disappeared while on sabbatical in Australia.