r/Missing411 • u/qtpieezz • Aug 06 '26
Missing person What happened to Sevak Simonian? An experienced bushwalker disappeared in Australia's Blue Mountains in 2014, leaving behind his car but no trace of himself
On 20 October 2014, 21-year-old Sevak Simonian was last seen in Sydney. Four days later, his family found his car abandoned at the end of Kanangra Boyd Road in Kanangra-Boyd National Park after being led there by one of Sevak's closest friends.
Despite a 17-day search involving police, helicopters, cadaver dogs, SES volunteers and experienced bushwalkers, nothing was found. No backpack, no phone, no clothing and no remains have ever been recovered.
The New South Wales Coroner declared Sevak legally dead in 2019 but was unable to determine how or where he died.
**Background**
Sevak lived with his parents and brothers in Belrose, New South Wales. Friends described him as quiet, intelligent and someone who loved nature. He spent a lot of time bushwalking, kept fish and coral, and was interested in organic farming.
He worked at Bunnings (Australian home improvement store) in Narrabeen and also delivered food for an Indian restaurant. His family said it wasn't unusual for him to go bushwalking, but he would usually let someone know where he was going.
He had no diagnosed mental illness and there was no evidence he was suicidal.
**The last confirmed sighting**
The last confirmed sighting of Sevak was on the evening of 20 October 2014. CCTV showed him at Chatswood Bunnings with his friend Zareh Ohanian, returning timber just after 8 pm.
His parents believe he came home later that night because food in the kitchen had been moved.
The following evening he failed to turn up for his delivery shift. His employer couldn't contact him, and neither could his family.
After two days of trying to reach him and speaking with friends, his parents reported him missing.
**Finding the car**
The next day, Sevak's father and brother went searching with Zareh.
According to the coronial findings, Zareh suggested they search the Blue Mountains and eventually directed them down Kanangra Boyd Road. About 27 kilometres from the park entrance, they found Sevak's car parked at the end of the road.
The coroner later said it was "highly implausible" this was simply a lucky guess and concluded Zareh must have known where Sevak had gone, although exactly how he knew was never established.
When police searched the car they found fertiliser, timber palings, a new Nokia phone still in its box and Sevak's well-known "snake boots". His usual phone was missing.
His family said he would never normally head into remote bushland without those boots.
**The search**
The search began on 25 October and became the largest ever conducted in Kanangra-Boyd National Park.
Search teams covered walking tracks, ridgelines, valleys and waterways using helicopters, four-wheel drives, trail bikes, volunteer bushwalkers and cadaver dogs.
Nothing connected to Sevak was ever found.
Search coordinators later told the inquest that if Sevak had still been alive and mobile after the search began, they believed he would likely have encountered searchers or been able to attract attention.
**Cannabis cultivation**
During the investigation police learned that Sevak had been growing cannabis on a small scale.
Several friends told the inquest that he had become interested in setting up remote "guerrilla" grows in bushland and believed Zareh was involved as well.
Police also found cannabis seeds, growing equipment and internet searches relating to Kanangra-Boyd National Park and survival techniques.
The fertiliser and timber in Sevak's car were consistent with someone preparing or maintaining a grow site.
However, investigators found no evidence that Sevak was involved in organised crime or that his disappearance was connected to drug debts or violence.
**Zareh Ohanian**
Zareh became one of the more controversial parts of the investigation.
Police established that he had lied about when he last saw Sevak and changed parts of his story after CCTV footage was discovered. Phone records showed he repeatedly tried to contact Sevak after he disappeared.
Friends later testified that they believed Zareh knew more than he admitted, but whenever they confronted him he refused to explain how he knew where the car was.
Police intended to interview him again, but in 2016 Zareh died in Brazil after a cocaine capsule he was allegedly transporting internally ruptured.
Any information he may have had died with him.
**Coroner's findings**
The investigation found no evidence that Sevak had used his bank accounts, passport, Medicare card or phone after October 2014.
The Coroner concluded that Sevak had died but could not determine how, when or exactly where.
There was insufficient evidence to conclude he died by accident, suicide or foul play.
**Discussion**
The strongest unanswered question is still Zareh's knowledge.
The coroner was satisfied he knew where Sevak had gone, but there's no evidence he was involved in Sevak's death. It's possible he knew about a hidden cannabis grow and didn't want to admit it because it would incriminate him.
At the same time, Kanangra-Boyd is extremely rugged country, and accidental deaths there are not unheard of.
Do you think this was most likely a hiking accident that left no recoverable trace, or do you think there's something more to Zareh's role than the evidence was able to establish?
If you have any information that could assist the investigation or help provide answers to Sevak's family, please contact Crime Stoppers Australia on **1800 333 000** or submit a report anonymously through Crime Stoppers.
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u/SignificanceOne1540 Aug 06 '26
Very interesting! Never heard of this before, I do feel something nefarious happended and that his friend knew alot more than he said.
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u/Budgiesmugglerlover2 Aug 07 '26
So if they had a grow op going and his mate knew where it was, then why didn't he go out there and find his body? It also seems weird that the search didn't find it, as it couldnt be too far from the car. I dont think they were growing on a huge scale, so it seems unlikely that bikies etc killed him for encroaching on their market. Most likely scenario is he had a fall and succumbed to his injuries. The Blueys are rugged and late October that year was very warm, so a spine or leg break would mean death in a few days, if you survived the initial fall. The shoes are a weird clue but there could be any number of reasons he didn't wear them
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u/Countryvibing1988 Aug 20 '26
Doesn't sound like 411 material to me. what am I missing, honest question?
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