Family upset at disappearance of student son
A ‘‘soft natured’’ graduate, who recently returned to New Zealand from studying overseas, is missing, worrying his family.
Stian Solberg had not been seen since July 9, the day after his 24th birthday, sister Manuella Andersen said yesterday.
The disappearance remains an ‘‘absolute mystery’’ to his increasingly worried family, who have filed a missing person report with police.
Solberg’s wallet, passport and clothes remain at the family’s home in Huntly.
His bank accounts had not been touched and while his phone was missing, a police tracker found it had not been used since July 4, Andersen said.
A police spokesperson confirmed Solberg was reported missing from his Huntly home on July 11. He was last seen wearing a white and black striped T-shirt, black shorts and black trainers.
‘‘There are increasing concerns for his safety,’’ a police statement said.
Solberg, born and bred in Christchurch, was incredibly bright and had returned from a scholarship in Taiwan two weeks before his birthday, Andersen said. He had graduated in accounting and Mandarin and planned on beginning his master’s degree. ‘‘The whole world is sitting at his feet,’’ Andersen said.
‘‘He’s such a responsible person; he wouldn’t leave and not say anything.
‘‘That’s why we’re so worried, because we know that this is not him.’’
Solberg’s birthday had been rainy, so the family spent a cosy evening together indoors. There were no arguments, no fights, nothing to suggest anything was amiss. But the next day, when Andersen went to wake Solberg in the afternoon, she realised he was gone. ‘‘We thought maybe he’d just gone out with a friend. Even then we were a bit iffy because it’s not like him to not say anything.’’
While he was a private and quiet person, he had a circle of friends who did not seem to have heard from him either.
After two days of worrying, the family contacted police. Andersen described Solberg as a kind-natured young man who ‘‘wouldn’t hurt a fly’’ and never spoke ill of anyone. She could not imagine anyone wanting to hurt him. In fact, he tended to be the family’s ‘‘conscience’’, and was affectionately referred to as ‘‘baby bear’’.
‘‘He’s our baby. He’s our very intelligent baby, and mum’s pet of course.
‘‘He’s got a very soft nature, he’s a very soft soul, very quiet. We hoped he was with a friend and just needed time out.
‘‘But the fact all his belongings are still here ... he would just not leave home without saying.’’ Andersen had hoped Solberg simply needed some time to himself after working so hard overseas but more than a week has passed.
Yesterday was the family’s ninth day of searching, Andersen said.
The family have been liaising with police every day.
‘‘[Police] have been really fantastic, actually . . . They are working behind the scenes tirelessly to find him and find out what has happened.’’
She urged anyone who knew anything about his whereabouts to contact police.
Police are urging anyone with information about Solberg’s whereabouts to contact police by calling 105 and quoting the file number 190712/1475.