All Access. All in one subscription. From $2 per week
Subscribe now

All Access Weekly

From $2 per week
Pay just
$15.75
$2
per week ongoing
Subscribe now
BEST VALUE

All Access Annual

Pay just
$449
$49
per year ongoing
Subscribe now
Learn more
30
NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather forecasts

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
  • Budget 2025
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
    • Cooking the Books
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • What the Actual
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / World

Suspicious details in case of missing autistic boy Anthony 'AJ' Elfalak

By Brooke Rolfe
news.com.au·
6 Sep, 2021 10:20 PM5 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

The case of missing three-year-old AJ gripped the nation over the weekend. Photo / Facebook
The case of missing three-year-old AJ gripped the nation over the weekend. Photo / Facebook

The case of missing three-year-old AJ gripped the nation over the weekend. Photo / Facebook

As Australia — and the world — grapples with how a 3-year-old autistic boy survived in the bush for three days, the family of Anthony "AJ" Elfalak have hit out at conspiracy theorists.

The case of the missing toddler gripped the nation over the weekend.

NSW Police deployed an extensive search party after he vanished without a trace on Friday morning from his home on a 650-acre property in Putty, about 75km south of Singleton, in the NSW Hunter Valley.

Just before midday on Monday, it was announced the non-verbal toddler had been found.

"Missing 3-year-old boy Anthony 'AJ' Elfalak has been located a short time ago. He is yet to be assessed by NSW Ambulance paramedics. More info to come," NSW Police shared in a tweet.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

AJ was found 470 metres from his home by a rescue helicopter at a creek within the property at 11.30am on Monday.

"Polair1 was flying over a ridge with a creek bed in it and they notice some movement. They were able to clearly identify a small boy in a puddle in a creek bed. That was the movement to alert Polair there was someone there," Superintendent Tracy Chapman said.

AJ was found on Monday after vanishing from his home on Friday. Photo / Facebook
AJ was found on Monday after vanishing from his home on Friday. Photo / Facebook

Chapman highlighted that while it was incredible news the little boy had been found alive, the police investigation surrounding where he had been was still ongoing.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"From a policing perspective we will still be continuing our inquiry to understand what has occurred over the past three days and how he came to be found after three days but certainly what occurred during the course of those three days," she said.

Family members celebrated after hearing AJ had been found alive. Photo / Channel 9
Family members celebrated after hearing AJ had been found alive. Photo / Channel 9

AJ sustained some minor scratches and nappy rash, but otherwise was deemed to be in healthy condition.

Alen Hashem, who regularly spoke on behalf of the family through the ordeal, blasted anyone who was doubting their story.

"No one could understand what this is like, what happened and what we went through," he told 7NEWS.

Discover more

World

Miracle ending in search for three-year-old boy missing for three days

06 Sep 02:49 AM
New Zealand

Surfer dies off Dunedin beach

06 Sep 08:15 PM
New Zealand

'Just put your bloody seatbelt on': Kaitaia firefighter's appeal after another needless death

06 Sep 12:17 AM
New Zealand

Body found in Christchurch's Port Hills 'most likely' missing 85-year-old

06 Sep 12:49 AM

"There's nothing, people saying 'crocodile tears, you guys aren't showing emotion, the best friend is very suss with Anthony's (AJ's father) wife'. Like, just rubbish.

Suspicious details surrounding disappearance

There were a multitude of suspicious details that emerged during the three-day search for AJ, with family members convinced someone was responsible for taking him.

AJ was last seen at about 11.45am on Friday, September 3, at a home on the property on Yengo Drive, where police arrived at about 12.30pm.

BREAKING NEWS: Missing three-year-old boy Anthony ‘AJ’ Elfalak has been located a short time ago. He is yet to be assessed by NSW Ambulance paramedics. More info to come.

— NSW Police Force (@nswpolice) September 6, 2021

Reports of a suspicious vehicle

His family were instantly concerned, given AJ had never wandered away from the home before.

His mum Kelly believed her son had been "taken", while his godfather Alan Hashem recalled seeing an unknown vehicle near the property before he went missing.

"I think he's been taken … If he was around here, I would've found him by now," Kelly told 7 News.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Hashem, who lives next door, was also convinced someone else was responsible for AJ's disappearance.

"A suspicious vehicle was spotted outside on the farm's private road … right before AJ went missing," he said.

On Monday, he said the family would continue working to find out what happened to AJ.

"We still need to find out what happened. We need answers. This is our little fortress. How did he leave? Who did he leave with? Did anything sinister happen?" he said, ABC reported.

"You know, these are questions that need to still be answered. You know, and we will not stop until we actually find the truth."

Vehicle seized from property

It was revealed on Monday that a ute had been seized by police from a property at Bulga, 78km northeast of where AJ was last seen.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

There were no further details on whether the ute was the same "suspicious" vehicle Hashem recalled seeing.

An abandoned derelict shack about one kilometre from AJ's home was also declared an active crime scene.

An extensive search party was established in search of AJ. Photo / Facebook
An extensive search party was established in search of AJ. Photo / Facebook

Items from inside the house, reportedly strewn with rubbish, were seized, according to Channel 9.

Petrol station CCTV was also seized by police from Colo Heights, about 40 minutes from the Putty property.

Footage missing from security cameras

Hashem said footage from when AJ went missing had been mysteriously deleted from CCTV cameras installed on his property.

"We installed it so high you can't tamper with it and we had two mechanisms of storage, cloud storage and physical storage, and there's no data in that timeslot," he told Today.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
The case of missing three-year-old AJ gripped the nation over the weekend. Photo / Facebook
The case of missing three-year-old AJ gripped the nation over the weekend. Photo / Facebook

"We provided the user name and password to the police, we provided them the actual original memory card."

Appearing on Sunrise moments later, he elaborated more on the grim discovery.

"We did have CCTV footage, I (installed) it myself as a matter of fact, I put it high up, so high in the tree that when the (Fire Brigade) said, 'Let me get the CCTV footage,' we went in there and I can't explain it, the window in which he went missing (is gone)," he said.

"Probably a much greater, larger window, about four hours, there is footage missing.

"We do have two mechanisms in which we store it, through cloud-based, which is obviously internet-based, and we have also got the physical memory cards, both have been provided to police and they are investigating further."

Chapman said the missing footage would form part of the police investigation.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"I don't understand what has happened with some footage however it [will] subsequently [form] part of our inquiries still," she said.

AJ finally found

There were emotional scenes on the property after it was revealed AJ had been found, with family members and friends seen cheering and celebrating the news.

His whereabouts for the period he was missing remains unknown, however Chapman said police were working on the assumption that AJ was in the bush for the full three days.

Save

    Share this article

Latest from World

World

Investor unease over Trump tax plan spikes US borrowing costs

23 May 01:20 AM
World

US Education Department must reinstate nearly 1400 fired workers

23 May 01:10 AM
World

Judge blocks Trump move to end student visas, grants nationwide relief

23 May 12:48 AM

The Hire A Hubby hero turning handyman stereotypes on their head

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Recommended for you
Arrested man claims police beat him, then released him to walk 20km back to Napier
Hawkes Bay Today

Arrested man claims police beat him, then released him to walk 20km back to Napier

23 May 02:13 AM
Bay of Plenty traffic expert defends te reo signs
Bay of Plenty Times

Bay of Plenty traffic expert defends te reo signs

23 May 02:00 AM
What's in the Budget for agriculture?
The Country

What's in the Budget for agriculture?

23 May 02:00 AM
'Unbreakable bond': Local school basketball stars dominate nationals
Bay of Plenty Times

'Unbreakable bond': Local school basketball stars dominate nationals

23 May 02:00 AM
Pals co-founders: How they went from surfing buddies to RTD moguls
Business

Pals co-founders: How they went from surfing buddies to RTD moguls

23 May 02:00 AM

Latest from World

Investor unease over Trump tax plan spikes US borrowing costs

Investor unease over Trump tax plan spikes US borrowing costs

23 May 01:20 AM

The legislation is expected to add trillions to ballooning US national debt.

US Education Department must reinstate nearly 1400 fired workers

US Education Department must reinstate nearly 1400 fired workers

23 May 01:10 AM
Judge blocks Trump move to end student visas, grants nationwide relief

Judge blocks Trump move to end student visas, grants nationwide relief

23 May 12:48 AM
Record floods claim four lives, isolate 50,000 in eastern Australia

Record floods claim four lives, isolate 50,000 in eastern Australia

23 May 12:21 AM
Gold demand soars amid global turmoil
sponsored

Gold demand soars amid global turmoil

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • What the Actual
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven CarGuide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
All Access. All in one subscription. From $2 per week
Subscribe now

All Access Weekly

From $2 per week
Pay just
$15.75
$2
per week ongoing
Subscribe now
BEST VALUE

All Access Annual

Pay just
$449
$49
per year ongoing
Subscribe now
Learn more
30
TOP
search by queryly Advanced Search