Discovery of missing woman's car in river heightens family's fears

Yvonne Whear, 73, was last seen driving towards her home near Murwillumbah in February. Her gold-coloured Ford Escape wagonwas found in the Rous River over the weekend, less than 10 kilometres from her home at Dungay. What's next? Police are conducting a forensic examination of the car, but say although some personal items were recovered, Ms Whear has not still been found. The daughter of a woman missing in northern NSW since February says the discovery of her mother's car at the bottom of a river has heightened the family's fears about what might have happened to her. Yvonne Whear, 73, was last seen driving near Murwillumbah, on Thursday February 19. Her daughter Gillian Hallac said recovering the gold Ford Escape SUV from the Rous River on Saturday September 12 was a relief, but it strengthened her belief that her mother was the victim of foul play. "I've always believed Mum didn't just leave and that someone had taken her and hidden the car," she said. "So finding the car where it was has reinforced what I've felt all along." Last sighting Ms Whear was last seen on the afternoon of February 19, when her car was recorded on CCTV travelling along Queensland Road in the direction of her farm near Murwillumbah. Ms Hallac said her mother had been to an art class at TAFE on the day of her disappearance. Ms Whear was also seen at the Shell service station on Tweed Valley Way at Murwillumbah around 3:15pm. The boots and hat she was wearing in CCTV footage from the service station were found at her house in Dungay. Phone records have revealed Ms Whear watched some videos and shortly before 5pm checked her voicemail. It was her last known activity. Car discovery Ms Whear's car was pulled from the Rous River near Dulguigan, less than 10 kilometres from her home. It was discovered around three weeks ago by an independent search organisation, which had offered to help the family find Ms Whear. A member of Sun State Search told the ABC he searched that stretch of the river after Ms Whear's family identified it as an area of interest, and located the vehicle using a fish finder device. On Saturday, Tweed Byron police and the Marine Area Command's Diving Unit searched the area and established a crime scene. After recovering the car from the water, they conducted a forensic examination before taking the car for further mechanical examination. Several personal belongings, believed to be Ms Whear's, were also recovered. Police said Ms Whear's body was not found inside the vehicle and she remained missing. Ms Hallac has urged anyone with information to come forward. "We want anyone in the local Murwillumbah and the surrounding areas with information about what happened to Mum, or if they know of anyone who may have wanted to harm her, to come forward," she said. ABC North Coast — local news in your inbox Get our local newsletter, delivered free each Friday