Extensive Search Launched for Missing New Zealander on Remote Scottish Island

Police in Scotland have launched an extensive search for 24-year-old Justin Evans, a New Zealand monk who vanished from the Golgotha Monastery on Papa Stronsay.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 14, 2026, 3:08 AM EDT

Source: RNZ Pacific

Description and Last Known Sightings

Justin Evans is described as approximately 183cm (six-foot) tall with short hair and a dark beard. He speaks with a distinct New Zealand accent and was last seen wearing a white monastic robe. Inspector David Hall of the Scotland Police confirmed that extensive searches are being carried out across the island area in coordination with partner agencies.

The Isolated Monastery of Papa Stronsay

Papa Stronsay is a tiny, privately owned island in the Orkneys, purchased by a Catholic order over 20 years ago. According to 2022 Census data, the island has a permanent population of only nine people. The Golgotha Monastery is the home of the Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer, a traditionalist Catholic order. Due to the island's small size and sparse population, the disappearance of a resident in such a confined environment is considered highly unusual.

Transformative Analysis: The Context of the Order

The disappearance comes against a backdrop of historical controversy surrounding the Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer. In 2024, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP) lodged formal complaints with the Catholic Diocese of Christchurch and New Zealand police regarding the order’s practices. Allegations included: