Click photo to enlarge
Missing millionaire Herman Rockefeller. Photo / TVNZ.
The Dunedin brother-in-law of missing Australian
businessman Herman Rockefeller says his family is "struggling"
as the search enters its second week.
Waikouaiti farmer Jim Lawson flew to be with his sister,
Vicky Rockefeller, in Melbourne on Tuesday.
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Ominous turn in missing millionaire case
"I'm just here for a bit of support. You need some family
support at a time like this."
Mr Rockefeller (52), who is not related to the American
Rockefeller dynasty, disappeared after leaving Melbourne
Airport on the evening of January 21 after returning from a
four-day business trip and police and his family are baffled
as to his whereabouts.
His bank account and credit cards have not been touched and
his car, a late model Toyota Prius, was found abandoned near
the western Victorian town of Ballan.
Click photo to enlarge
Kingscliff, the former home of Plunket founder Sir Truby
King, in Karitane, owned by Mr Rockefeller's wife, Vicky.
Photo by Gillian Vine.
Earlier this week, a distraught Mrs Rockefeller broke
down while appealing for help from the public.
She told ABC News her husband's disappearance was out of
character and there was nothing to indicate where he was.
"We have no idea at all. He's level-headed, the business is
going well and he's a real family man.
"You just can't imagine what it is like; it is just
unbearable," she said of the three days spent wondering what
had happened to her husband.
Mr Lawson said his brother-in-law's disappearance was unusual
and unexpected and the family were still stumped about Mr
Rockefeller's whereabouts, but they hoped the waiting would
be over soon.
"It's a struggle though. It's a bloody difficult situation."
People had been wonderful to his sister and her teenage
children, he said.
"There is food coming in every day. It's the children that we
are really worried about."
He intended to stay as long as he was needed, but "there was
not a lot you can do".
He expected the family would continue to need support after
Mr Rockefeller was located.
"I think whatever happens, it's going to be awkward
afterwards."
Their sister Julie, from Christchurch, was also in Melbourne
to support Mrs Rockefeller, Mr Lawson said.
Because of the police investigation, he was unable to comment
further, he said.
On Monday, police investigated an unconfirmed sighting of Mr
Rockefeller in the nearby town of Gordon, where a dairy owner
claimed a man resembling the millionaire had bought food.
There was another unconfirmed sighting of Mr Rockefeller
yesterday walking on a main road in Kyneton, about one hour's
drive north of Gordon, but police were unable to locate
anyone fitting Mr Rockefeller's description.
Victorian police said in a statement yesterday they had
received much information from the public, which they were
sorting through.
News website www.theage.com.au reported yesterday
Victorian police were confident, based on the evidence they
had, Mr Rockefeller was still alive, but they still did not
know where he was.
A suburban property investor in Australia, Mr Rockefeller was
perhaps better known in New Zealand, where he was a director
of casino group Sky City, chief financial officer at
investment company Brierley Investments for many years and
co-founder of Genesis Research and Development Corporation.
He met his future wife, Vicky Lawson, formerly of Waikouaiti,
while they both worked for Brierleys in the 1980s.
The couple have two children and live in Melbourne.
Mrs Rockefeller still owns Kingscliff, the former home of
Plunket founder Sir Truby King, in Karitane.
Mr Rockefeller was last in Karitane with his wife for
Christmas and New Year 2008-09.
debbie.porteous@odt.co.nz
