Jackson Stacker Body Found Near Byron Bay Australia

Jackson Stacker was born in Melbourne in 1996 and grew up in a tight-knit family that prized creativity and independence. From a young age, he demonstrated a mechanical aptitude, often helping his grandfather tinker with old radios and tools in the backyard shed. After finishing high school, Jackson enrolled in a technical college to study electrical trades. He threw himself into his apprenticeship at a local firm, earning praise from supervisors for his diligence and problem-solving skills. Outside of work, Jackson was known among friends and family for his easygoing nature, quick laugh, and dreadlocked hair — a style he’d adopted as a symbol of his free-spirited outlook. Despite excelling in his career path, Jackson often spoke of longing for adventure and escape from the constraints of city life, expressing a desire to explore Australia’s vast coastlines and remote communities.

The Road Trip Begins

In December 2020, Jackson set off in a white Toyota Hiace van, a gift from his late grandfather that he had lovingly outfitted with a basic bed platform, storage shelves, and a small gas stove. He told loved ones he planned a modest road trip up the New South Wales coast, fueled by a yearning for simplicity and connection with nature. Jackson stocked the van sparsely, carrying only essential tools, a few changes of clothes, and a handful of personal mementos: a photo of his grandfather, a small journal, and a well-worn guitar. Over the next several months, Jackson sent occasional updates — a photo of sunrise over the Gippsland Lakes, a brief voicemail from Port Macquarie — conveying a mixture of wonder at Australia’s beauty and moments of loneliness on the open road.

Life in Byron Bay’s Fringe Community

By mid-2021, Jackson had reached Byron Bay, attracted by its reputation as a vibrant arts hub and gathering place for those seeking alternative lifestyles. He parked his van near Main Beach and soon fell in with a loose network of transient travelers and so-called “stoner crews” who camped on dunes and formed communal bonds over campfires and music. Friends recalled Jackson’s easy camaraderie as he shared food, rolled joints, and experimented sparingly with psychedelics at remote “doof” parties. Despite occasional anxiety, he found camaraderie in the group’s rejection of conventional social pressures. Local acquaintances described him as generous and attentive, always offering a hand with mechanical fixes or a smile to someone in need. Yet beneath his affable exterior, Jackson wrestled with bouts of homesickness and depression, confiding in one friend that he sometimes felt “adrift” without a stable roof over his head.

Final Days and Last Communications

Jackson’s last confirmed conversation with his mother took place on 22 July 2021. According to family testimony, he sounded upbeat, discussing plans to find short-term work in Byron Bay and reassuring her that he was safe. The following days, however, saw Jackson grow increasingly unsettled. A close friend recounted an incident at the Main Beach car park, where Jackson, overcome with emotion, threw his bicycle against concrete rocks and broke down in tears. Witnesses said he appeared agitated after an LSD experience at a nearby festival, complaining of paranoia and exhaustion. Those same acquaintances described Jackson offering his van to a fellow drifter before disappearing; when that individual failed to return, the group assumed Jackson had moved on to another campsite.

Discovery of the Van

On 23 August 2021, two tourist passersby found Jackson’s Toyota Hiace abandoned at the Sleepy Hollow rest area on the Pacific Highway, roughly 40 kilometers north of Byron Bay. The van, once neatly organized, was “completely trashed”: seat cushions ripped out, foam insulation torn, and personal items like his SLR camera, laptop, and extra clothing missing. On the front seat lay a half-empty bottle of gear oil and a roll of duct tape; on the dashboard, a discarded blueberry-flavored vape and matches. A concerned visitor reported the vehicle to police, prompting an initial welfare check. When inquiries yielded no sign of Jackson at local campgrounds or known addresses, authorities escalated the matter to a missing person search.

The Grim Discovery

Just two days after the van’s discovery, on 25 August 2021, a police party undertook a line search of a nearby paddock accessible only by crossing a fence and wading through a shallow creek. Beneath a large eucalypt tree lying 50 meters from the rest stop, officers found skeletal remains face-down in a small clearing. Embedded in the chest was a 30-centimeter hunting knife driven “to the hilt.” Scattered around the scene were Jackson’s dreadlock-tied scalp, unzipped leather boots, three disarticulated finger bones, several loose teeth, a black beanie, and a pair of matches. The distance between the scalp and the body — approximately 14 meters — suggested post-mortem disturbance, though it remained unclear whether animals or human intervention had caused the scattering.

Details of the Scene

Forensic experts at the coronial inquest noted the extreme decomposition rendered soft tissues largely absent, complicating efforts to determine the precise cause of death. The knife wound, deep and centered over the sternum, could have been self-inflicted or the result of an assault; no defensive wounds were recorded, nor was any undisputed third-party DNA recovered from the weapon or surrounding objects. No footprints aside from Jackson’s were reliably identified, and the initial crime scene protocol — including a delayed search of the rest area and lack of thorough swabbing in the van — raised concerns among attendees at the inquest. Witness testimony also highlighted that nearby cattle had grazed in the paddock, potentially disturbing and dispersing skeletal elements.

Investigative Shortcomings

The inquest laid bare several procedural lapses. Investigators conceded the Sleepy Hollow rest stop was not systematically combed for forensic evidence until days after Jackson was reported missing, and that no DNA samples were collected from items like the vape or oil can inside the van. Key associates from Jackson’s transient circle were not formally interviewed until weeks later, and officers leading the initial search subsequently went on extended sick leave, leaving unanswered questions about lost evidence and undocumented leads. Critics argued these oversights may have foreclosed opportunities to identify suspects or rule out foul play.

The Inquest and Public Reaction

Coroner Teresa O’Sullivan opened the inquest in early 2024, bringing Jackson’s case back into public view. Media coverage spotlighted the family’s anguish and the case’s confounding details, sparking debates on social outlets about police accountability in rural jurisdictions. Jackson’s mother testified to finding one of his teeth herself beneath a leaf near the tree, a discovery she said underscored her belief that the investigation had been hurried and incomplete. Community vigils and online campaigns echoed calls for transparency, with supporters urging that the final verdict address both the “beautiful soul” Jackson embodied and the disturbing circumstances of his end.

Ongoing Questions and Family’s Quest for Answers

Nearly three years after his death, Jackson’s family continues to press for closure. They emphasize his passion for exploration and connection, challenging the notion that a young man brimming with potential would choose to harm himself in such a violent manner. Advocates for Jackson’s case argue that critical investigative errors — from delayed site searches to incomplete forensic sampling — have left the door open for unsolved suspicion: was this the act of a troubled individual or the work of an unseen assailant? As the coroner prepares her findings, those who knew Jackson await a definitive determination, hoping for either the solace of understanding or the opportunity to seek justice.

Jackson’s story remains a haunting testament to the vulnerability of life on the margins and the enduring impact of unanswered questions.