Father’s heartfelt appeal for son

THE father of a man missing for almost 10 months who is feared murdered wants his son back “dead or alive”.

Jacob Horton vanished without a trace on June 27 last year when he was seen leaving a home in Drum Close, Frankston.

His body has not been found.

The 28-year-old, who was well-known in the Mornington Peninsula drug scene, had no vehicle and no mobile phone when he left.

Jacob’s father, Michael Horton, yesterday said his son was “not a violent person” who did not deserve to die.

“He is a very soft, gentle person,” Mr Horton said.

“The difficulty is not having him around. Someone decided to kill him.

“Jacob didn’t deserve this; what gives you the right to take my son?”

Mr Horton said his son was a “very” trusting person who he suspected had been taken advantage of.

The family reported his disappearance to police after they had not heard from him for about four to six weeks, which was out of character.

“Jacob would ring his mother regularly and talk,” Mr Horton said.

He said closure was “enormously important” for him, his wife and their four other children.

“Whether he be dead or alive, we’d just like him back,” Mr Horton said. “We’ll keep living this every day.”

Mr Horton said his son had been working in the family glazing business in Rosebud up until Christmas 2018 and had attempted to detox from drugs at various stages.

He said his son had become dependent on the drug ice and his involvement in drugs and low-level crime was a “means to an end” in order to survive.

“I don’t know why he ever got into it; it was probably his undoing,” Mr Horton said.

SOMEONE DECIDED TO KILL HIM. JACOB DIDN’T DESERVE THIS; WHAT GIVES YOU THE RIGHT TO TAKE MY SON?

MICHAEL HORTON

“He just couldn’t get away from ice.

“You have to learn to live with it. You can’t make them do what you want. You’ve got to let them live their life.”

Detective Inspector Andrew Stamper said there were a “number of persons of interest” police were talking to.

“We want to find Jacob,” Insp Stamper said.

“It is a painstaking process of elimination when you are dealing with this area of the community.

“This is a torture for families, a never-ending torture. It is a torturous grief that just doesn’t end until you can get them home.”