Disappearance of John Beckenridge and Mike Zhao-Beckenridge
{{Short description|New Zealand missing people case}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2023}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=September 2024}}
{{infobox event
| title = Disappearance of John Beckenridge and
Mike Zhao-Beckenridge
| date = {{date and age|2015|3|13|df=y}}
| location = Invercargill, New Zealand
| type = Disappearance
| reported missing = John Beckenridge
Mike Zhao-Beckenridge
}}
On 13 March 2015, Swedish-born New Zealander John Beckenridge breached a parenting order and picked up his 11-year old stepson Mike Zhao-Beckenridge from a school in Invercargill.{{Cite news |first=Emily |last=Moorhouse| date=4 June 2023 |title=Missing boy was 'out of breath, panicky' the day he disappeared |url= https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/beckenridge-coroners-hearing-missing-boy-was-out-of-breath-panicky-the-day-he-disappeared/D73SPV5MQZBHROHZA2NT42PIEU/ |access-date=4 June 2023 |website=The New Zealand Herald |language=en-NZ}} Over the following week they were spotted in the Catlins area of New Zealand, southeast of Invercargill.{{Cite news |title=Court hears final texts sent before man disappeared in Catlins with stepson |last1=Brownlie |first1=Kaysha |date=22 May 2023 |language=en |work=Newshub |url=https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2023/05/court-hears-final-texts-sent-before-man-disappeared-in-catlins-with-stepson.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230604052738/https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2023/05/court-hears-final-texts-sent-before-man-disappeared-in-catlins-with-stepson.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=4 June 2023 |access-date=4 June 2023}}{{Cite news |title=Beckenridge case: Mother believes she will see missing son again |url= https://www.1news.co.nz/2023/06/02/beckenridge-case-mother-believes-she-will-see-missing-son-again/ |access-date=4 June 2023 |website=1 News |language=en}} Beckenridge's car was later found at the bottom of sheer cliffs near Curio Bay.{{Cite web |title=Mike Beckenridge |url=https://www.police.govt.nz/missing-persons/listings/mike-beckenridge |access-date=4 June 2023 |website=New Zealand Police |language=en}} Their bodies have never been found.{{Cite news |title=John Beckenridge's car 'like a tin can that had been squashed', police diver says |language=en |work=Newshub |url=https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2023/05/john-beckenridge-s-car-like-a-tin-can-that-had-been-squashed-police-diver-says.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230526014049/https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2023/05/john-beckenridge-s-car-like-a-tin-can-that-had-been-squashed-police-diver-says.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=26 May 2023 |access-date=4 June 2023}}{{Cite news |last=Redstall |first=Shannon |date=2 June 2023 |title='Forgive me': Beckenridge's friend receives disturbing letter after disappearance |url= https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/132215991/forgive-me-beckenridges-friend-receives-disturbing-letter-after-disappearance |access-date=4 June 2023 |website=Stuff |language=en}}{{Cite news |date=1 June 2023 |title=Beckenridge mystery: Friend worried 'upset' stepdad 'might do something stupid' |url= https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/491159/beckenridge-mystery-friend-worried-upset-stepdad-might-do-something-stupid |access-date=4 June 2023 |website=RNZ |language=en-nz}}{{Cite news |date=4 June 2023 |title='Do not deserve my love': Concerning texts from boy who vanished with stepdad |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/mysterious-beckenridge-case-coroner-to-decide-if-missing-11-year-old-and-stepfather-are-likely-dead/XFDUFWHW4BGG5KM6CAMLXU6IP4/ |access-date=4 June 2023 |website=The New Zealand Herald |language=en-NZ}}
Background
= Prior to disappearance =
John Beckenridge met Mike’s mother, Fiona Lu, in 2006 whilst working in Afghanistan. They later moved to Queenstown, New Zealand, where they resided for many years. Their relationship broke down in 2014, when Fiona moved to Invercargill for a hairdressing course and met her new partner, Peter Russell.{{Cite web |date=2023-07-02 |title=The Beckenridge mystery: 'I know my son is alive' |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/the-beckenridge-mystery-mum-will-be-waiting-for-him-with-open-arms/DT7UJICNVISCLQPUZU6JNSASVA/ |access-date=2023-07-02 |website=The New Zealand Herald |language=en-NZ}} In February 2015, Fiona won full custody of her son, who had been living with John in Lake Hayes Estate at the time of the divorce.{{Cite web |last=Baker |first=Che |date=2016-04-20 |title=Missing man John Beckenridge's Queenstown house sells for $860,000 |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/79098718/missing-man-john-beckenridges-queenstown-house-sells-for-860k |access-date=2023-07-02 |website=Stuff |language=en}} In the weeks leading up to the pair's disappearance, Mike sent a series of e-mails to John that mentioned self-harm and pleaded to be reunited with his stepfather.{{Cite web |date=2023-05-23 |title=Beckenridge mystery: Boy sent emails to step-dad begging for his help |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/490505/beckenridge-mystery-boy-sent-emails-to-step-dad-begging-for-his-help |access-date=2023-07-02 |website=RNZ |language=en-nz}}{{Cite news |title=Fractured relationship between Mike Zhao-Beckenridge and mother laid bare by emails sent to stepdad |language=en |work=Newshub |url=https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2023/05/fractured-relationship-between-mike-zhao-beckenridge-and-mother-laid-bare-by-emails-sent-to-stepdad.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230702035553/https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2023/05/fractured-relationship-between-mike-zhao-beckenridge-and-mother-laid-bare-by-emails-sent-to-stepdad.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=2 July 2023 |access-date=2023-07-02}}
= Disappearance =
On March 13, 2015 John Beckenridge picked up Mike from James Hargest College at about lunchtime.{{Cite web |last=Redstall |first=Shannon |date=2023-05-23 |title=Mike Zhao Beckenridge 'panicky' the day he went missing from school |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/132115950/mike-zhao-beckenridge-panicky-the-day-he-went-missing-from-school |access-date=2023-07-02 |website=Stuff |language=en}} The pair were spotted driving across the Catlins area on Wednesday. On March 16 a farmer spotted the pair in Beckenridge's car on his property. The farmer believed they had spent the night sleeping in it. Another witness told officers at the Balclutha police station that they had seen them at a camping site near the Haldane Estuary on March 19.{{Cite web |first=Shannon |last=Redstall|title=New details point to where Beckenridges hid after disappearance|date=24 May 2023 |url=https://www.thepress.co.nz/a/nz-news/350014276/new-details-point-to-where-beckenridges-hid-after-disappearance?_ptid=%7Bkpdx%7DAAAA1fIofp7wxgoKZ283ZzJTVERwYRIQbGkwcGYyaDZuYzhndzFkbRoMRVhJRFlGRzlQR0tMIiUxODBpdmZvMDlzLTAwMDAzMjJhNm44bGJxaGs4c2VsbzltajE0KhNydW5Kc0FFQUVZU1VFQzA3VjY2Ukt2LTIwMjMtMDUtMjQtMDgtMDMtNDEtNTE4LXYzQng2MFJqT3JoajdtT1ItYmJkNWM1ODU0N2I1ZTdlNTdmNjJkMDM0ZGJiYjBmZTNaDzIwMy4xMDkuMTk4LjIxMGIDZHdjaJ3buaMGcAV4CA |access-date=2023-07-02 |website=The Press }} On March 20, Mike Beckenridge's dark blue 4WD Volkswagen Touareg went off a {{convert|88|m|abbr=on}} cliff near Curio Bay. Six weeks later police dragged the wrecked vehicle from the water. Their bodies have never been found.{{Cite news |last=Kidd |first=Rob |date=2023-02-21 |title=Coroner to investigate case of missing pair |url=https://www.southlandexpress.co.nz/news/coroner-to-investigate-case-of-missing-pair/ |access-date=2023-07-02 |newspaper=Otago Daily Times |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2016-03-01 |title=Zhao-Beckenridge: the truth is out there |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/opinion/77451195/zhaobeckenridge-the-truth-is-out-there |access-date=2023-08-08 |website=Stuff |language=en}}
See also
References
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Category:2010s missing person cases