An American tourist was found in Australia close to five years after he was declared missing. Kenneth Rodman, 60, is expected to be deported back to the United States in the upcoming weeks.
Kenneth Rodman, a missing American tourist, was found well and alive in Australia, according to a Monday police report. Rodman was reported missing by a friend on December 21, 2010.
The American tourist was 55 at the time and was traveling around the country using a green kayak. Rodman was in Australia via a tourist visa, which means that he was not allowed to stay in the country for more than twelve months. His family remained in the US and never heard from him since 2010.
Rodman disappeared from northern Australia, and his kayak was found submerged near a beach about one month after the man went missing.
On Saturday night, the police were investigating a burglary case in Cairns when officers stumbled on the American tourist. Rodman was chased by a police dog, after that he decided to confess that he had been on the missing person list for five years. A Queensland state police statement revealed:
“Friends, family and police were unable to make contact with him since 2010. On Saturday night, officers investigating a matter stumbled across the now 60-year-old man where he allegedly confessed to police that he had been listed as a missing person. It was a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time for a long-time missing man located in Cairns over the weekend.”
The reason for Rodman’s disappearance is still a big mystery. He was not wanted for a crime. Local authorities are trying to find out if someone helped the American tourist stage the whole thing. It is believed that he was hiding in tropical far north Queensland.
It is suspected that Rodman was just trying to stay in the country. Inspector Glenn Horan explained:
“The matter was never closed as a missing person case but inquiries led police to believe he was avoiding contact with authorities to stay in Australia, despite his visa expiring.”
The American tourist, who was found in Australia, is now in the custody of immigration officials. Commentators are divided about Rodman’s alleged actions. Some say, stress can drive people to do irrational things, while others believe his decision probably caused a lot of harm to his friends and family.
Ask him why maybe he will now tell his story about his removal from life.
Gee I guess in Australia if you are a illegal immigrant they ship you home, unlike America. America would give you a check, food stamps, healthcare and let you hang around as long as you like. The guy either probably just wanted to get away from his family, or was creating insurance fraud.. who knows. He did go about it the wrong way, shame on him
Because he was white, he was deported immediately.
Marilyn,
I’m surprised you can put words together into a sentence. The laws in the USA apply to all equally. Illegal immigrants are deported as they are processed through our legal system. In America, we have a concept of “innocent until proven guilty”. Although this allows illegal immigrants to stay in the US while they are processed through the legal system, this same generosity allows idiots like you to properly defend yourself from false accusations. Of course, you wouldn’t understand that concept, since your education ended with the Civil War. Which the south LOST, by the way. Stop flying the flag of traitors over buildings owned by the taxpayers.
you must have voted for Obama
Sometime life gets the best of you, and you feel like disappearing.
You got that “Dead On Right” !!
If the guy liked it so well there that he remained, but didn’t cause any mayhem, they ought to just find a way to allow him to remain. The report says that he was in the wrong place at the right time?
I think he was selfish. His family was probably worried sick over him,.
I think he was selfish his family probably was worried sick over him,