EXCLUSIVE
The phone and social media accounts of a Vietnamese exchange student who vanished from her host family’s home remain deactivated more than three weeks after she went missing.
Sunnie Nguyen, 17, had dinner with her host family at their South Plympton home, in Adelaide’s inner-south, on the evening of January 8 before she was later discovered missing from her room.
The Year 11 student’s phone was also immediately switched off and social media accounts shut down.
Sunnie’s host mother May Zervaas told Daily Mail she has been monitoring her accounts over the past few week, hoping one would flicker to life.
‘The day she went missing, when I tried to ring her number, it would say “check the number and try again”,’ she said.
‘I’ve been checking the number and social media, but still – nothing.’
Ms Zervaas said she was heartbroken by Sunnie’s disappearance and she is worried about her wellbeing.
Sunnie Nguyen, 17, (pictured) went missing from her host family’s South Plympton home on January 8
‘It is hurting me,’ she said.
READ MORE: Stunning new theory emerges after four Vietnamese exchange students vanished from their host families’ homes
Sunnie Nguyen is due to start Year 11 this year
‘When she was here, she was a good girl. She was very respectful and would do anything I asked. I don’t know why this has happened.
‘I am just wishing that she is okay.’
Sunnie is one of four international students who had been reported missing from the Adelaide area between December 2023 and January 2024.
South Police believe the teenagers are on the run and ‘actively avoiding authorities’.
‘All lines of enquiries in the investigations indicate that some of these youths may have travelled interstate and still remain there,’ an SA Police spokesperson said.
‘There is nothing currently identified in any investigation that would indicate these youths are in immediate danger and they appear to be actively avoiding police.
‘SA Police continue to work with interstate policing counterparts and AFP to help locate these youths.’
SA Police said they have since been able to make contact with the families of the youths in Vietnam, who have not shared any concerns for the students’ welfare.
Ms Zervaas was checking Sunnie’s room at around 11pm on January 8 when she discovered the teenager was gone – along with her backpack, laptop, a few important ID documents and some clothes.
Her daughter Mary said they were very concerned because Sunnie was very shy and struggled to speak English.
‘She has come out of her shell with the students here and with us, but when we go out in public, she is still gets other people to talk for her,’ Mary said at the time.
Sunnie is described as ‘very kind’ but very shy
‘When she first arrived, if she went out alone she would come home almost instantly because she couldn’t speak English.
‘We have tried our best to teach her English and encourage her talking in English at home. She has improved a lot but not enough to get by.’
Daily Mail understands each case is being treated as a separate matter.
At the time of Sunnie’s disappearance, a Vietnamese community leader in Adelaide said the missing students may have travelled interstate.
‘I hope that this is a case of, because of school holidays, kids, 17 years old, want to get together to go somewhere and not (tell) anyone,’ said Lien Nguyen-Navas of the Vietnamese Womens Association.
‘I hope that was the case.’
The Zervaas family hope if Sunnie sees this story, she will get into contact and let them know she is okay.
Sunnie is known to frequent Adelaide’s CBD, Marion, and South Plympton.
Anyone with information is urged to contact SA Police on 131 444 using report number 2400009568.