More than six years have passed since Karen Gudelj’s son, Zac Erin Barnes, disappeared in the bush, and she has recently paid an emotional tribute while seeking answers about his whereabouts. Gudelj expressed her family’s love for her son during an inquest held to investigate what happened to Barnes before he went missing at the age of 18 in the Hunter Valley region of NSW on November 13, 2016. She tearfully stated in the Lidcombe Coroner’s Court, “Zac respected everybody and he deserves to be respected. If Zac has lost his life, we deserve to be able to bury him and remember him.”
Barnes was visibly distraught and angry in the days leading up to his disappearance. During a car ride to Thornton railway station with a friend, he requested to be let out of the vehicle. The young man was last seen running off into the bush along a dark road. Although he was reported missing on November 14, extensive searches have failed to locate him.
Coroner Carmel Forbes has been tasked with determining whether Barnes is deceased, the cause of his death, and whether the police did everything within their power. As the three-day inquest came to a close on Wednesday, Gudelj described her son’s life, from being a cute toddler to a “little protector,” a teenager testing boundaries, and a student aspiring to become a doctor. The courtroom was shown photographs of Barnes as a child, playing in the pool, celebrating at birthday parties, and smiling with his siblings.
Gudelj revealed that Barnes’s grades dropped in year 10, and despite wanting to quit school, he worked hard to become an apprentice bricklayer. Speaking to other families, she expressed, “If I can just say to any family out there, Zac’s life turned very quickly, and I think a lot of it is because he wanted to be that popular, social kid.”
Previous testimony during the inquest revealed that Barnes had used drugs like ecstasy and LSD, as well as regularly indulged in drinking and partying with friends. In March 2016, Barnes and his mother had an argument when she proposed charging him board for staying at home. During this confrontation, Barnes broke down and sobbed in his bedroom, refusing to disclose the reason for his distress. Gudelj shared that he told her, “I’ve seen stuff, I can’t get it out of my head,” and believed revealing it would result in trouble for them.
Gudelj also described a burglary at their home following her son’s disappearance. She believed the individual responsible aimed to make it appear as though Barnes took some belongings and ran away. However, they only took his brother Cody’s clothing and left behind items such as Barnes’s watch and Converse shoes.
The coroner heard testimonies from Barnes’s employer, Alan Kirby, and his friend, Joe Robinson. Kirby stated that he did not recall firing Barnes on the day of the apprentice bricklayer’s altercation with another employee while intoxicated at work, contradicting his 2017 statement to the police. Robinson mentioned that Barnes had another argument with a friend whom he had been staying with for a few nights on the day of his disappearance. Barnes had not contacted his parents for several days before he was found at his friend’s place. When urged to contact his mother, he became upset and asked for a ride to Thornton station, where he made the fateful decision to run into the bush.
The findings for the inquest will be delivered by Coroner Carmel Forbes at a later date. If you require assistance during a crisis, please call Lifeline at 13 11 14. To learn more about depression, contact beyondblue at 1300224636 or consult with your GP, a local health professional, or a trusted individual.