Search continues for missing HB woman

Eastern, 11 December 2014 - The search for a 77-year-old Hawke’s Bay woman continues today with no sightings or indications of where she might be.

Fiona Wills went missing from her family’s rural property on Old Taupo Coach Rd near Te Pohue, off SH5 two days ago. Mrs Wills suffers from dementia and was last seen around 6pm on Tuesday evening when she went to feed animals on the farm.

The family run the well-known Trelinnoe Gardens on their 2500-acre property.

Search co-ordinator Detective Wayne Steed said despite extensive foot, vehicle and air searches of the property over the last two days, there had been no sign of the woman.

She is described as Caucasian with white hair, slim and fit, about 1.6m tall. She was last seen wearing grey khaki pants, a long-sleeved back top and sandals. She was also carrying a clear plastic 5 litre measuring jug.

Mr Steed said police search and rescue and Hawke’s Bay Landsar teams had scoured the large rural property looking for Mrs Wills. The Lowe Corporation rescue helicopter yesterday did an aerial search, but there have been no sightings of the woman.

Police were now appealing to motorists who had travelled on SH5 on Tuesday evening and yesterday who may have seen Mrs Wills in the area. Appeals have also been made to trucking companies who use the highway.

“SH5 is some distance from the farm property, but she may have walked to the highway in a disorientated state. Someone may have picked her up and she may have asked to be taken to another location,” Mr Steed said.

Visitors to the 5ha Trelinnoe Gardens over the last few days were also being asked to contact police if they had seen Mrs Wills anywhere on the property during their visits there.

“The property is large and rugged in some parts and we have been extremely thorough in our searches. But unfortunately, there has been absolutely nothing to indicate where Mrs Wills might be. We are hoping someone may have seen her or perhaps picked her up if she did make her way to SH5,” Mr Steed said.

Around 30 family friends and neighbours are continuing the search today and search and rescue teams will also be back on the ground.

Anyone who has seen Mrs Wills is urged to contact their nearest police station.

ENDS

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