NSW coroner refers Jackson Stacker's 2021 death to homicide squad after inquest raises unanswered questions
Consensus Summary
The death of 25-year-old Jackson Stacker in August 2021 near Byron Bay, NSW, has been referred to the state’s Unsolved Homicide Squad after a coronial inquest raised serious questions about the circumstances of his death. Stacker’s remains were found decomposed in a paddock on August 25, 2021, with a knife lodged in his chest and his scalp 14 meters away. His van was abandoned two days earlier at a nearby rest stop. The coroner, Teresa O’Sullivan, concluded the cause of death was ‘unascertained’ due to advanced decomposition but noted the knife wounds were likely fatal. While Stacker’s family and friends described him as distressed in the weeks before his death—including a friend’s text urging him not to do anything harmful—the coroner found no definitive evidence of suicide. Both sources agree the initial police investigation was marred by concerns, including a premature assumption of suicide and delays in establishing a strike force. Stacker’s parents have gathered new evidence and welcomed the coroner’s recommendation for a homicide review, hoping justice will finally be served after years of unanswered questions.
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Key details reported by multiple sources:
- Jackson Stacker, a 25-year-old Melbourne man, died in 2021 near Byron Bay, NSW, with his remains found on August 25, 2021, under a tree in a paddock near Sleepy Hollow, Pottsville (40km north of Byron Bay).
- Stacker’s abandoned Toyota Hiace van was found on August 23, 2021, at a rest stop in Sleepy Hollow, with keys in the ignition and ransacked contents.
- A large hunting-style knife was found in Stacker’s left chest area, with the handle resting on his right hand; no DNA evidence was extracted from the knife.
- Jackson Stacker was last seen alive on July 22, 2021, in Byron Bay, where he was described as upset and crying uncontrollably after consuming LSD.
- NSW State Coroner Teresa O’Sullivan recommended on April 23, 2026, that Stacker’s death be referred to the NSW Police Unsolved Homicide Squad for further assessment.
- Forensic pathologist Dr. Leah Clifton concluded the cause of death was ‘unascertained’ due to advanced decomposition, though she stated it was ‘most likely’ caused by the knife wounds.
- Stacker’s family believes the initial police investigation was flawed due to a premature assumption of suicide and has gathered new evidence to present to homicide detectives.
- The coroner found ‘some aspects of the early police investigation raised concerns’ but could not conclusively determine if the investigation was inadequate.
- Stacker’s scalp and dreadlocks were found 14 meters from his skeletal remains.
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Stacker’s father, Ian, stated Jackson was ‘seeking an alternative lifestyle’ and wanted to ‘live off the land without impacting the environment’ before his death.
- Stacker’s mother, Sandra MacFarlane, found one of his teeth under a leaf at the crime scene after his remains were discovered.
- The coroner noted an absence of defense wounds and stated the two chest wounds ‘tend against murder’ but acknowledged the lack of conclusive evidence either way.
- The coroner mentioned a ‘detective A’ whose testimony was not heard, preventing a definitive finding on investigation flaws.
- The article includes a direct quote from a friend of Stacker’s who texted him on July 22, 2021: ‘love ya heaps, don’t do anything I wouldn’t.’
- The coroner explicitly stated there was ‘no evidence that anyone wanted to harm him’ and that he was ‘well-liked.’
- The ABC article includes a warning label for distressing content at the beginning.
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- The Guardian states the coroner found ‘the two chest wounds tend against murder because it is unlikely that Jackson would have stood still while being attacked,’ while the ABC does not explicitly mention this specific interpretation of the wounds.
- The Guardian notes the coroner could not ‘positively establish that Jackson took his own life,’ whereas the ABC emphasizes the coroner found it ‘could not be positively confirmed’ he took his own life, framing it as a slightly less definitive statement.
Source Articles
Mysterious death of Jackson Stacker near Byron Bay referred to homicide squad
Melbourne man stabbed twice in chest, with remains found in field near his campervan in 2021. Family argue police prematurely assumed he’d killed himself Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast The New South Wales coroner has recommended the mysterious death of Jackson Stacker near Byron Bay be investigated by the homicide squad, with Teresa O’Sullivan finding “some aspects of the early [police] investigation raised conc
Coroner refers Byron death of Melbourne van-packer to homicide police
The NSW state coroner recommends the death of van-packer Jackson Stacker near Byron Bay be referred to the Unsolved Homicide Squad.