Full Name: Peter Douglas Coop

Alternative Name:

Case Status: Missing

Record ID#: 0444

*The names “Jane Doe”  and “John Doe” are English names used when the person’s true name is not known. If used above, the name refers to a person of unknown identity.

Date of Birth*: March 19, 1961
Birthplace: Unknown, but he grew up in Nelson, New Zealand.
Age at the Time: 28
Age Group: 20s
Biological Sex: Male
Hair: Dark brown or black hair
Eyes: Blue
Skin Complexion:
Shoe Size:
Ethnicity: Caucasian or White
Nationality: New Zealand
Languages Spoken: English

*Discrepancies: Most sources state his Date of Birth as March 19; however, his sister’s post on Facebook says March 20. Most sources list his height as 185cm (6’1″); however, his sister’s post on Facebook says 191cm (6’3″).

Physical Build: Medium

Height:

Weight

Distinguishing Marks:

• Medical Condition

Medical Condition: He had asthma but left behind his Ventolin inhaler.
Physical Abnormality:
Dental Condition:
Scars & Other Marks:
Piercings:
Tattoos:

Other Descriptors: Mr. Coop was a qualified medical doctor (GP with training in ophthalmology) and has been married only 7 months to his wife Galina.

Clothing

He might have been wearing outdoors clothing or camping gear. His tracksuit, running shoes, and leather hiking boots were missing from his home.

• Tracksuit or Other Outdoor Clothing
• Running Shoes or Leather Hiking Boots

Possessions:

Also missing from his home was various camping gear including a blue sleeping bag and an orange tent.

Date of the Disappearance*: June 5, 1989

Description: Peter Coop grew up in Nelson, New Zealand, attending a boarding school while his parent (both reputable eye surgeons) worked out of Canberra, Australia. Peter would eventually follow his parent’s career path, attending medical school and working towards a specialization in ophthalmology.

In June 1989, Peter had only been married for seven months when he decided to attend a month-long ophthalmology training course at Dunedin Hospital. The course was a difficult one, and few of its attendees would pass. Consequently, Peter had expressed some concerns about the course, a fact that would become relevant later.

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He arrived in Dunedin around June 4-5, and checked into a local hostel where he planned to remain during the program. On June 5, he called his wife back in Auckland to reassure her that he had arrived safely and was settling in. According to her, the conversations appeared normal and he promised to call and check in again the following day.

Evidence suggests he did sleep in the room overnight, but he mysteriously disappeared the following morning. When he failed to attend the first lecture on 6 June and did not contact his family, concern grew and police issued a search of his room.

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Inside, they found his wallet and cash, various paperwork, his asthma inhaler, clothing, and other personal items; however a tracksuit and his running shoes were missing. For all intents and purposes, it seemed he had just left for some exercise in the morning and never returned. Unfortunately, the matter became more complicated after Initial searches of nearby trails, the Otago Peninsula, Mt Kettle, and surrounding hills found no trace.

Police eventually uncovered the fact that Peter had previously demonstrated a behavioral pattern of disappearing when under pressure. For example, he once disappeared for a week during his first year of medical school and again later when he left for a two month biking trip without notice. Consequently, the investigation began to question whether he left voluntarily and simply walked away from the pressure of his career (and possibly the responsibilities of his recent marriage).

The matter was further complicated when his wife, Galina, realized that various camping items had been taken from their house including:

• Blue Sleeping Bag
• Orange Tent
• Leather Hiking or Tramping Boots
• Other Outdoor Items
• $500 Cash Advance on his Visa Card arranged Friday before his disappearance.

Inside his hostel room trash can, they discovered a torn page from a notepad that contained notes that seeming referred to packing and travel items. The exact wording is disputed but it is generally summarized as:

“Arrive, arrange 12.30, pack: $120. Matches, jeans $200, Stove, Jersey, Master Charge.”

Questions remain about why he would leave behind essentials such as his wallet, cash, and asthma inhaler if planning a deliberate departure. Police have also noted the possibility of misadventure, such as an accident while hiking or tramping in the Dunedin area or beyond.

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Peter’s family has maintained that he did not deliberately walk away from his life. His sister has suggested he may have gone tramping or hiking and suffered an accident, consistent with his enjoyment of outdoor activities. There are a few hiking spots near Dunedin, particularly near the beaches. If this is true, it suggests that perhaps he never meant to attend the medical course as missing days to go camping would put him substantially behind in the class.

Some family members noted lights on in the Nelson family home around the time of his disappearance while his parents were away, raising questions about whether he briefly returned there.

In 2008, Peter’s family and friends established the Friends and Family of Missing Persons Charitable Trust (fFoMPA) to provide support, information, and education for families of missing people. His father, Douglas Coop, authored the book Gone Missing: A Guide for Those Left Behind, drawing on their experiences and broader fieldwork. The book covers the roles of police and search agencies, dealing with media, available support organizations, the emotional impact on families, counseling, reasons people go missing, and scenarios involving return or recovery of remains.

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Multiple Victims?: No

Rumored or Actual Sightings:

• On 6 June 1989 (the day he disappeared), a former classmate and colleague, Josie Parker (who had studied with him for over eight years), reported seeing a man she believed to be Peter sitting in the departures area of Invercargill Airport, dressed in outdoor clothing.
• In 1997, Dr Elizabeth Hagen (another doctor and former Auckland Medical School classmate, accompanied by her husband) reported seeing a man she identified as Peter at or near Emu Creek Camping Area in New South Wales, Australia. The individual was driving a distinctive yellow Lada Niva 4×4 and was with a woman and two children. The family reportedly left the campsite before she could speak with them the next morning.
• In 2003, Peter’s mother, Dr Margaret Coop, reported seeing a man she believed to be her son briefly while crossing the Collingwood Street bridge over the Maitai River in Nelson. She described him as tall and thin with hair, accompanied by a young boy on the riverbank below. At the time, she was unable to reach him before he disappeared. Police investigated but remained sceptical.

*If the date says January 1, this is often just a placeholder for an unknown specific date. It usually means “sometime that year”.

Date the Body was Recovered:

Description: Unknown

Time of Death:

Cause of Death:

Recovered Remains (if partial):

Suspected Homicide?:

Multiple Victims?: No

DNA Tested (No Match):

*If the date says January 1, this is often just a placeholder for an unknown specific date. It usually means “sometime that year”.

Description: In 1997, Dr Elizabeth Hagen reported seeing a man she identified as Peter driving a distinctive yellow Lada Niva 4×4 and was with a woman and two children.

License Plate:

Description: