Potential breakthrough in the mysterious disappearance of a beloved son who went missing 17 YEARS ago - as cops believe he could be living under a new identity

  • Paul Wright, now 43, vanished from Rosanna, Melbourne in September 2003 
  • Police believe he may be using an alias Brien Hunter and working in security
  • His family haven't given up searching for their son after seeing him 17 years ago 

By ELIZA MCPHEE FOR DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA

Published: | Updated:

A man who hasn't been seen in 17 years is believed to be working in the security industry under a fake name.

Paul Wright who would now be 43 years old, vanished from Rosanna in Melbourne in September 2003.

Police said he was known to use the name Brien Hunter and could be still be living under that alias. 

His blue 1991 Nissan Pintara sedan with number plates EMI 944 has never been found - but his devastated family refuse to give up hope.

Victoria Police have renewed their appeal for anyone with information to come forward in a statement on Wednesday.

Police said he had worked in a security industry and may still be in the same field.

His family haven't heard anything from Mr Wright since his disappearance and he hasn't accessed any bank accounts. 

His family were notified of a possible sighting in 2012 of a hitchhiker believed to be Mr Wright but it was later dismissed

His family were notified of a possible sighting in 2012 of a hitchhiker believed to be Mr Wright but it was later dismissed

Police have released a photo of Paul Wright in 2003 (right) and what he could look like now aged 43 (left)

Police have released a photo of Paul Wright in 2003 (right) and what he could look like now aged 43 (left)

On a Facebook page set up by Mr Wright's parents to track down their son, his family revealed he had been in trouble with the law.

'Not a day goes by that we don't think of him, miss him and wrack ourselves with guilt and regret,' his family wrote in a post in 2017

'Paul is our son and a missing person. He has had issues with the law, nothing that can't be solved.'

In 2012 his family were notified of a possible sighting of their son.

A woman had seen a man hitch hiking near a highway in Innisfail, far north Queensland. 

'The driver of a vehicle who picked up Paul believed her passenger was highly likely to be a missing person, due to some things he said. She later identified her passenger as Paul Wright,' his family said.

'The driver described Paul as looking 'weathered', and significantly older than the picture of him online. She said he'd lost weight and looking 'sinewy', although clearly quite muscular.'

The possible sighting was later dismissed. 

Paul Wright was last seen in September, 2003 in Melbourne and hasn't spoken to his family since

Paul Wright was last seen in September, 2003 in Melbourne and hasn't spoken to his family since

Melbourne

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