Missing Victorian teenager spotted in interstate emergency accommodation

A teenager who has been missing for four days has reportedly attended emergency accommodation interstate. Krishank “Krish” Karthik, 16, was last seen leaving his Truganina home in Melbourne’s west about 7.30am on Monday carrying spare clothes, a backpack and a suitcase. His family believed the Year 11 Suzanne Cory student was making his way to school, however he never arrived. His family have since revealed Krishank had not been attending classes for the past two weeks and had instead logged into the school’s parent portal to mark himself as absent. Police now believe the teenager is in NSW, as officers received information he attended an emergency accommodation building in Cleveland Street, Surry Hills, on August 6 just before 5am. It comes after he was reportedly spotted on a train from Tarneit station to Melbourne central on Monday morning, where he purchased two doughnuts and withdrew money from a 7-Eleven about 10.50am. About an hour later he travelled to North Melbourne where he purchased food. At 1pm the owner of a phone store on Swanston St recognised Krishank after seeing a social media appeal for his whereabouts. The owner claimed the missing student had sold his iPhone 14 pro that afternoon. Krishank’s family have made an emotional plea for help, with his mother Shobana Karthik revealing her life has been a “living hell” since her son disappeared. “Please my dear child, come back, bubba. I don’t know if I’ve hurt you in anyway but I apologise to you,” she told 9News. Krishank’s mother said he is a “brilliant” student. Police hold concerns for Krishank’s welfare as his behaviour is “out of character”. He is Indian in appearance, about 170cm tall with a medium build and black hair. He was last seen wearing a red T-shirt with a Suzanne Corry logo, black track pants sports uniform, with black shoes and a grey hoodie. Anyone with information is urged to contact Werribee Police Station on (03) 9742 9444.