Kye Schaefer died after being stabbed at a beachside parking lot in Coffs Harbour. Picture: Facebook
A man has been charged with the alleged murder of New South Wales surfer Kye Schaefer. The arrest comes a month after the 22-year old surfer was stabbed in a NSW beach parking lot, and three weeks after his parents made an impassioned public plea for help in finding the killer of their son.
On May 2, Schaefer was stabbed multiple times at Park Beach Reserve car park in Coffs Harbour. He had been surfing at a spot known as Parkie that morning and was still in his wetsuit when he was found and emergency response was called to the scene. He was then taken to a hospital, where he died from his injuries.
Following an investigation by the State Crime Command Homicide Squad, police arrested and charged 36-year-old Matthew Willacy with Shaefer’s murder on Tuesday morning, as Australian Associated Press reports. Homicide Squad Commander Daniel Doherty told reporters Willacy was known to the police and believed to be homeless and living in the area. Doherty also confirmed that Willacy had been charged in relation to an unrelated robbery around the same time, near the location where Schaefer was attacked.
“It’s been a month’s worth of dedicated, determined investigative work, from not only homicide detectives, but also the Coffs-Clarence Police District,” Doherty added. “[They] compiled evidence from witnesses accounts, CCTV, and forensic evidence, which we will allege is a strong circumstantial case.”
However, investigations are still ongoing. Doherty urged anyone with information or dash cam footage to come forward. Police are still searching for the murder weapon and a bicycle Willacy was believed to be riding the morning of the stabbing.
As to the motive for the attack, Doherty later told Sydney radio 2GB that, “It may be a robbery gone wrong, but it was unprovoked and it was violent.”
Willacy briefly appeared before Coffs Harbour Local Court Tuesday, and will return to court on August 13.
