Doug Morris has lived on the outskirts of Charters Towers for more than 40 years.

He says few things have baffled the small north Queensland town more than the disappearance of Newcastle's Jayden Penno-Tompsett, who was passing through on his way to Cairns on New Year's Eve.

Jayden Penno-Tompsett was not reported missing for four days. Credit:Queensland Police

"I've lived here 40 years and I've never seen or heard of anything like it," said Mr Morris, who lives near where the 22-year-old was last seen.

"No one has seen him. We're all looking but it is just so mysterious. It's terrible."