Larissa Beilby moved from Adelaide to Queensland with her family and had been living in transitional accommodation in Brisbane’s north after fleeing a man—not a partner—who made her feel endangered, according to The Courier Mail.
Tragically, the 16-year-old then ended up with a police fugitive more than twice her age with a criminal history, including armed robbery and extortion.
Police now fear the teen has been murdered after the gruesome discovery of a body dumped in a barrel hidden under a tarp in a ute.
As the manhunt for Zlatko Sikorsky continues, reports have surfaced the schoolgirl had told her friends she was worried he would find out just how young she was and that he had a gun.
Ms Beilby was reported missing on June 15, but contacted friends and family after three days. Police were still concerned for her safety, however, and saw her bank card had been used at a McDonald’s.
CCTV footage led them to a black ute which they tracked to a Buccan property. When they arrived at the property on Wednesday, a man—believed to be Sikorsky—fled the scene in the ute.
The black ute was then found dumped near a mobile park home at Staplyton and it was there that police discovered the barrel in the rear tray.
Police believe Zlatko Sikorsky is in the Logan, Gold Coast area, but warn the public he is not to be approached.
Yesterday, a witness came forward to say she saw an arm hanging out of the barrel prior to police discovering the body.
Sikorsky’s father said people needed to “wait for police to do their job”.
“Hopefully all of this is nothing but rubbish,” he told The Courier-Mail.
“My son he is a decent person,” he said.
Police are yet to say if the body has been positively identified and warned the public to not approach Sikorsky if they see him.
“We have information that he has access to firearms,” Logan CIB Detective Acting Inspector Scott Furlong said.
If you have any information to pass on to police about this incident, contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
