Sasoon for Sevak

Name: Sevak Simonian

LAST SEEN: Chatswood, New South Wales

Missing since: October 2014

Then aged: 21

FUN FACT: Grew coral and bred saltwater marine fish

The family home of Sevak Simonian, sits on a quiet street, in a suburb that juts up against the bush of Sydney’s Northern Beaches. From the top of their driveway, it’s high enough to see the ocean meet the land. A wide expanse of blue and green across the horizon. A feeling that the world goes on forever. Until you step through the front door. Inside, the world is on hold because Sevak isn’t here, sleeping in his bedroom with the blue and silver walls.

Yet, the house is smart, neat. Family photos line the shelves. A bunch of flowers spill from a vase. It could be your place. Why couldn’t it be, when thousands are reported missing each day. How does that make you immune from this tragedy? The Simonians aren’t.

‘I don’t want to avoid talking about it. I don’t want to avoid talking about my brother, because he’s such a special person.’

They are a happy, loving family. Three brothers, three sons. Then one day they woke and everything changed. Now, the air hangs heavy in their home, weighed down with their sorrow.

‘Sevak brought the most to the family,’ his older brother Sasoon says. So much so, that Sasoon wonders if his parents would be as sad if he or his younger brother vanished. If it would affect the family, the way Sevak’s disappearance has?

nicola-sallesse-photo

After the story, Loren and Sasoon discuss the complexities unique to the missing sibling dynamic, the pain of speculation and the potential for growth.

CREDITS

What’s Missing was adapted from MPAN’s book, Too Short Stories. Sasoon and Sevak’s story was written by J.C. Burke. Get a copy of the book at Too Short Stories.

Hosted by Loren O’Keeffe
@DanComeHome

Missing person: Sevak Simonian
Facebook: @findsevak

Additional writing for this episode by Erin Munro

Research by Catherine Seccombe

Theme song
‘Wildflowers’ by Jess Ribeiro

Audio production and music composition by Mike Migas
www.mikemigas.com

Graphic design by Maricarmen Rubí Baeza
www.linkedin.com/in/maricarmenrubi

Video and web design by Paulina Szymanska

Missing Persons Advocacy Network (MPAN)
www.mpan.com.au

Casefile Presents
www.casefilepresents.com