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Home / New Zealand

Family desperately wants missing uncle and nephew back

By Kirsty Wynn & Georgina Harris
Rotorua Daily Post·
13 Aug, 2017 06:09 AM4 mins to read

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25 year old James Fleet has gone missing along with his uncle Raymond Fleet. Photo/supplied

25 year old James Fleet has gone missing along with his uncle Raymond Fleet. Photo/supplied

The family of Rotorua men James and Raymond Fleet "desperately want them back" after the pair mysteriously disappeared a week ago.

Bronwyn Fleet, James' mother and Raymond's sister, said the last week had been "pretty rough".

"We're all looking after each other. We're all here together."

James Fleet, 25, who works as a roofer in Rotorua, was last seen last Monday night. At around 6.30pm a man knocked on the door of his grandmother's house, where he was living, and he went to the door.

It is understood James Fleet left with the man.

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His uncle, Raymond Fleet, 51, went missing at or around the same time as his nephew. Like James, Raymond left without his wallet, shoes and keys.

Rotorua man Raymond Fleet has gone missing with his 25-year-old nephew James Fleet. Photo/supplied
Rotorua man Raymond Fleet has gone missing with his 25-year-old nephew James Fleet. Photo/supplied

Ms Fleet said the family was trying to keep positive and carry on with normal day-to-day things, including celebrating the 11th birthday of one of James' brothers yesterday.

She works as a midwife, and said she and her husband, a farmer, would be back working tomorrow.

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"It helps to keep busy ... we desperately want them back. If anybody has any information please contact police or contact me. We're a big family who are just devastated," she said.

She told NZME yesterday she had no idea where her 25-year-old son was and was mystified as to why he disappeared.

"He has a big family, six brothers and sisters with me and three with his dad, who all love him and want him home ... he's a wonderful brother. They all love him. He's caring and would do anything for anyone."

Ms Fleet said her son was a "gentle-natured boy".

"We have not heard anything else at all, no one has seen or heard from him," Ms Fleet said.

The family were close and were "always at each other's houses".

James had popped in last Saturday to see his younger siblings and watch TV show Game of Thrones with his mum.

"We can't think of where he might be and can't think of anyone who would want to hurt him."

Raymond Fleet's partner, Michiko Suzuki, said she was "not doing very well".

She told NZME her children were too scared to go home until their dad is back with them.
"My nine-year-old keeps asking if his dad is okay and where he is. He is too scared to go home," Ms Suzuki said.

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She spoke to Raymond by phone at 1pm last Monday when he was at his mother's house a couple of doors away.

"When I spoke to him everything seemed fine, he was happy, he wasn't angry or scared, he just sounded normal," she said.

When she got home from work at 6pm she busied herself getting the washing off the line and preparing dinner but said she didn't see her partner.

"I haven't seen or heard from him since that day. His car was here and he always takes his car. He's a truck driver so he loves driving his car," she said.

"We don't know what has happened but if it was a friend at the door then James would have taken things with him," a family member said.

Ms Suzuki tried ringing Raymond that night but he did not answer his phone. The next day the phone went straight to answer machine.

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She said it was out of character for him not to call or text.

Rotorua Detective Sergeant George Staunton said their disappearance was at odds with their normal activities and work commitments.

Raymond Fleet is Caucasian, of thin to medium build and is 175cm tall. He has a receding hairline, with short brown hair and a moustache. He has hazel/green eyes and has a tattoo of a bird on his back.

He usually works driving trucks. It's not known what clothes he might be wearing.

James Fleet is Caucasian, of medium build, with thick, wavy, dark-brown, shoulder-length hair.

He is 172cm tall, has hazel/grey eyes and has tattoos along his right arm of crossed rifles under a "Codys" symbol and a dragon-looking tattoo down his right forearm to his hand.

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He was last seen wearing a dark-coloured hoodie and grey trackpants.

Police are searching for the pair and believe they are together.

A police media spokeswoman said the investigation was ongoing.

"Police remain concerned about their whereabouts and ask anyone who has information or who has had contact from them to contact Rotorua police."

Any sightings and or information can be directed to Rotorua police through Crimestoppers on 0800555111.

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