CASE PROFILE – Michael Modesti

Posted on 10/05/2021

Less than a handful of people are thought to know exactly what happened to devoted family man Michael Modesti.

The father of one was last seen leaving his home address at Willsmore Street, Beverley at 8.15am on Monday, 9 May 2016.

There was no evidence of a disturbance at his home address, with his mobile phone and wallet found at the locked property. The blinds were up, dishes in the sink and the TV had been left on.

The 33-year old’s disappearance was declared a major crime and suspected murder investigation on Monday, 23 May 2016.

Investigators believe that Mr Modesti has been murdered because of association with people involved in the drug trade.

His sudden disappearance occurred only several days after returning from Thailand. While there is no direct evidence to confirm, investigators suspect some sort of drug involvement in the overseas trip.

Mr Modesti’s movements have been tracked since arriving back in Adelaide from Thailand on Friday, May 6 and police are confident that when he left his home it was either with his killer or to meet him.

An associate of Mr Modesti remains a suspect in the case, with investigators believing the pair had been in a drug enterprise together, possibly with links overseas.

The associate is believed to have intended travelling to Thailand with him but pulled out at short notice. He has been interviewed and his property searched, but more evidence is needed.

Mr Modesti’s blue Magna 360 model sedan (SA registered XPC-764) was found abandoned two days later in Chenoweth Avenue, West Croydon, near Torrens Road.

Police believe that people known to him had removed evidence from the vehicle which could have assisted the investigation.

Investigators have received information that an associate of Mr Modesti removed a burner mobile from the car and disposed of it in a storm water drain near the Livingstone and Hillsdale street roundabout in Prospect. A search of drains in the area has failed to find that phone, which likely contained telephone numbers of associates involved in illegal activity in the western suburbs.

A $200,000 reward remains on offer for information that leads to a conviction in this case and/or the recovery of Mr Modesti’s body.

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