Croatian Hostel Owner's Son In Custody Over Disappearance Of Australian Backpacker

Dubrovnik, Croatia (AHN) - The son of a hostel owner has been taken into custody in the disappearance of a Melbourne, Australia college student who was backpacking through Croatia.

Australian backpacker Britt Lapthorne, 21, had stayed at a backpacker's hostel owned by suspect Ivica Perkovic's father.

Perkovic, 33, has denied any involvement in the woman's disappearance, saying he was not the last person to see her the night she disappeared. He explained a call from Lapthorne to his cell phone as not being personal, reportedly saying that the cell phone he used was the official telephone number for the hostel. The number is listed on the hostel website as a contact number.

Lapthorne was staying at Ibiza Dubrovnik hostel and was last seen at a Dubrovnik nightclub early on Sept. 18.

Police have reportedly speculated that Lapthorne might have hitched a ride or tried to walk back to the hostel, it would have been a 30-minute walk, according to reports.