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.
What are your thoughts on Kenneth Rodman’s five-year absence?
