Love-struck man sparks mystery | Gatton News | Local News in Gatton

Acting Senior Sergeant George Pope with the box of jewellery left at St Mary’s Catholic Church in Maryborough.

Jocelyn Watts

A LOVE-STRUCK young man with a penchant for pretty rings and writing notes to several fiances – and then leaving the notes in a Maryborough church – has sparked a baffling mystery on the Fraser Coast.

“We seem to have come to a halt with this investigation,” Acting Senior Sergeant George Pope said yesterday.

“We really do want to find this young man because we are concerned for him.”

Mr Pope said the mystery began when local Catholic priest Father Paul Kelly brought in a coloured gift box to the police station that had been left in St Mary’s Church.

“It contained five rings, including one that looks the real McCoy. The others have red, black and white stones, which may be glass and there is also a woman’s watch in there, plus a bar of Old Jamaica chocolate and a note signed Craig.”

Father Kelly said he had noticed the man come into the church on February 24 about 12.30pm.

“I saw him kneel down to pray and then he was gone. After a while I noticed he had left flowers and a coloured box with pink and yellow flowers and a butterfly on it at the altar, so I opened it.

“It had rings, a watch, the chocolate and a note addressed to ‘all my fiances’.

“I handed it over to the police because I was worried for the man. Then last Thursday someone left a pile of rings on a note under the church awning in Adelaide Street. It was addressed to Mary M.”

Acting Snr Sgt Pope said some of the names “Craig” had written in the first note were Jennifer, Karen, Andrea and Sharmaiyne.

“There was also a card addressed to Alexandria.”

Mr Pope said he hoped a Chronicle reader would contact the police station if they could throw any light on the mystery man.

Father Kelly said he was taking the second lot of rings and the note to the police yesterday.

Acting Snr Sgt Pope said anyone with information could contact police on 4123 8111.