A SALE man was taken into custody early this morning, charged with the murder of missing Lakes Entrance man Dalibor (Dale) Pantic.
After a “long and protracted investigation”, Missing Persons Squad detectives charged 33-year-old Sam Blake.
Facing Sale Magistrates’ Court today via video link, Blake did not apply for bail.
Mr Pantic disappeared in 2019.
The 39-year-old father of five was last seen by his friend at a farm in Perry Bridge on the night of April 10, 2019, and investigators have been unable to establish his whereabouts or any proof of life after that time.
There has been no activity on any of Mr Pantic’s social media accounts, and his bank accounts haven’t been touched.
There were a number of sightings of his silver 2005 Ford sedan across Melbourne in the days following his disappearance, but Mr Pantic was not behind the wheel.
Police retrieved Mr Pantic’s car from Bunyip State Forest in May last year.
Police have previously described Mr Pantic as operating in the drug scene in the Lakes Entrance, Bairnsdale and Sale areas, and said his Samsung Galaxy phone was found with drug associates at Wurruk.
Anyone with information about the incident is urged to phone Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
