Police find car in state park

A vehicle has been located in the Bunyip State Forest as part of the Missing Persons Squad investigation into the suspicious disappearance of a Lakes Entrance man last year.

Dalibor (Dale) Pantic, 38, was last seen alive on April 10 last year.

Information provided to missing persons squad detectives over the past 12 months led police to a “specific area” off Forest Rd, Labertouche where they hoped to find Mr Pantic’s vehicle, and possibly his body.

The search was launched on Monday, May 18 and concluded when a silver Ford was retrieved by police on Friday, May 22. The vehicle is now undergoing forensic testing.

His body was not recovered during the search.

A number of police units were involved in the search through bushland at Labertouche.

Following a renewed appeal for information about the missing 38-year-old and his vehicle, a number of members of the public contacted police after seeing media reports.

Detective Inspector Andrew Stamper told media at Labertouche they believed Mr Pantic was murdered because of his strong links to the “drug community.”

He said they were not aware of Mr Pantic having any links to the Labertouche area other than through the drug scene.

Mr Pantic was last seen at a farm in Perry Bridge on April 10 2019 and investigators have been unable to establish his whereabouts or any proof of life after that time.

Investigators have also released CCTV which depicts Mr Pantic’s 2005 silver Ford Falcon leaving a Sale address at 10.58pm on April 12, two days after he was last seen in Perry Bridge. Police have established Mr Pantic was not the driver of the vehicle.

There were a number of sightings of the car across Melbourne in the days following his disappearance.

Anyone who saw Dale around the time of his disappearance or who may have seen his Ford sedan or anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online at www.crimestoppers.com.au