35-year-old mystery gets TV airing

Lionel Russell. File photo / Supplied

A man who mysteriously vanished 35 years ago is to feature on New Zealand TVNZ's The Missing show.

It will revisit the disappearance of Lionel Sydney Russell, last seen living rough in the Central North Island.

Mr Russell, who was 25 at the time, went bush after splitting up with his wife in 1975.

He spent the summer living rough and growing marijuana in an isolated part of the Ruapehu area with an older man he met in prison, another unknown man and an eight-year-old boy.

Mr Russell disappeared eight weeks later after leaving the campsite with the unidentified man. The eight-year-old reported hearing two gunshots after the older man escorted the pair out of the area. The older man later told the child that Mr Russell had gone to Australia.

Central Police District detective inspector Chris Bensemann said finding out what happened to Mr Russell was as important as if he had disappeared yesterday.

"His family want and deserve to know the truth and if someone has information that will help us to bring those answers to the family we would urge them to contact us," Mr Bensemann said.

Police said Mr Russell had a troubled childhood, he had served a three month prison sentence, and spent time in a mental institution,

He was not reported missing until 1997 when a conversation between the boy, now 43-years-old, and a woman appeared to confirm that Mr Russell's disappearance was suspicious.

Police said it was out of character for Mr Russell to not stay in touch with his family. They have investigated his whereabouts in New Zealand and across the Tasman.

- NZPA