Lisa Blakie: Area Search Continues

17 February 2000

AREA SEARCH CONTINUES

The search of properties and buildings from the Porter River to Arthur's Pass by the Lisa Blakie homicide team continues today.

"We've found nothing to indicate a link between Lisa and anything we've seen or found so far," says Detective Inspector Rob POPE. "People have been very helpful and co operative."

The search will continue today towards Arthur's Pass, looking at all dwellings including accommodation houses and farms. The Bealey Spur, Cass and the Cragieburn Village have been worked through.

Mr POPE says he will assess at the end of this phase whether or not to continue the search in the other direction towards Springfield or even extend the search wider.

Over thirty tentative sightings of a brown car fitting the description released by Police, or Lisa, have been received. All have to be checked out to decide their relevance to the investigation.

The man and woman seen camping in the Porter River lay-by for several days in the week Lisa disappeared, have not contacted the Police yet.

They had a grey/green dome tent, and a white car, thought to be a late 80's model. The man was thought to be wearing a red kilt. His woman companion was said to have a pale complexion and wore her hair in a pony tail. Detective Inspector POPE emphasises that these people are not considered suspects.

"It's just that they were seen to be camping in the lay-by where Lisa's body was discovered on Sunday morning and may have seen something they not realise the importance of."

Nearly fourteen thousand flyers with photos of Lisa, her dog Kaos, the dress she was wearing when she was hitch hiking, and a bag similar to her green kit bag which is still outstanding, will be travel to the west coast today. It's hoped that delivery to all houses and businesses on the west coast will start tomorrow.

"There are 13 892 residential, businesses and post boxes in that large area from the Karamea River to Haast. This way we hope to contact many more people to try to establish if Lisa ever, as she intended when she set out on Wednesday 2 February, made it to the coast."

Rob POPE, Detective Inspector

Maggie Leask, Canterbury District Police, 03 363 7815, 021 663 701

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