Parents of Matthew Leveson share emotional tribute to son, 15 years after disappearance

The parents of a 20-year-old man who went missing in 2007 have shared an emotional tribute on the 15th anniversary of his disappearance.

Matthew Leveson was never seen again after he left Sydney gay club, ARQ in the early hours of the morning on September 23, 2007. His former boyfriend, Michael Atkins was the last person to see him alive. While Atkins was charged for his ex-partner’s murder in 2008, he was acquitted in 2009.

Atkins would eventually lead police to Matthew’s unmarked grave beneath a cabbage-tree palm at the Royal National Park in May 2017. This was despite his initial testimony that his partner was still alive and possibly living in Thailand.

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Matthew’s parents, Faye and Mark Leveson, took to Facebook to mark the 15-year milestone and grieve the loss of their child.

“A part of our hearts went with you to heaven,” they wrote. “We miss you so much that the pain is unbearable and there is not a day goes by where we don’t mention your name.

“We miss hearing your voice and your infectious laugh, seeing that cheeky glint in your eyes and your gorgeous smile. We didn’t get to say goodbye and tell you how much we love you and give you one last big hug.”

They also wrote about the 10-year process between their son’s disappearance and the eventual discovery of his skeleton remains.

“Michael Atkins then denied knowing what happened to you for almost 10 years. He didn’t count on our undying love and determination to find you,” they wrote.

“The justice system let you down and the ‘it’ walks free without a care in the world.

“Matty you are the brightest star in the sky, dancing with the angels. Until we meet again.”

Body found 10 years after Matty’s disappearance

Although Mr Leveson disappeared in 2007, his family would have to wait until December 2017 for the NSW Coroner to deliver his findings on their son’s death. In March 2018, the family were able to give their son a funeral and official send off.

Mourners gathered at Woronora Memorial Park in Sydney’s Sutherland Shire and dressed in bright colours at the family’s request.

In 2009, a jury found Atkins not guilty of murder or manslaughter, and he was given immunity for perjury charges and further prosecution if he helped authorities locate the body.

To date, it’s believed Atkins told police Matthew died of a drug overdose, however he felt the need to disguise his death as he was “concerned that people would think badly of him for not looking after Matt”.

Delivering the open findings at a inquest into Matthew’s death in December 2017, deputy state coroner Elaine Truscott said there was ultimately insufficient evidence to determine the cause of his death.

She did, however state that Atkins had told a “plethora of lies,” and that she did “not accept Mr Atkins is a person of truth”.

“Ultimately, the lies that Mr Atkins told during the course of his evidence to the inquest, as with other lies he had told to a range of people, including the police, since Matt’s disappearance, give rise to a considerable degree of suspicion that Mr Atkins had some connection with Matt’s death apart from the fact he buried Matt’s body,” she said.

“However, it does not follow … from that degree of suspicion that I can find that Mr Atkins was involved in any acts which were causative to Matt’s death.”

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Speaking to the media in the aftermath of the inquiry, Mr and Ms Leveson said that while the result was bittersweet, “in a small way” they were able to get justice for their son.

“Our goal was to bring Matt home and that’s been done,” Mr Leveson said.

“Atkins doesn’t matter, our son was the most precious thing to us and to his brothers. Why would we worry about Atkins? Just give us back our Matty,” Ms Leveson added.

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