Detectives are investigating whether a missing woman who vanished without a trace more than a decade ago committed foul play after new information sparked a new search for her remains.
Lorrin Whitehead, then 42, was last seen sitting in the driver’s seat of a red 4×4 in Bannockburn, near Geelong, south-west of Melbourne, on February 8, 2013.
The mother-of-five was seen buying a bottle of water, a greeting card and a pen at a local supermarket after leaving her property at around 4.40pm.
On Tuesday morning, police launched a new search after receiving new information about the possible location of Ms Whitehead’s remains.
Police and SES crews were seen scouring bushland on a remote property in Shelford, about 20 kilometers west of Bannockburn.
They were searching for Ms Whitehead’s remains and several devices she owned, including a laptop that has never been recovered.
“We have a responsibility to Lauren, her five children, her elderly parents and the close-knit community of Bannockburn to resolve this investigation,” Detective Sergeant Steven Murphy told reporters.
“We are considering all theories regarding Lorrin’s disappearance and that includes foul play.”
New clues have sparked a renewed search for Lorrin Whitehead (pictured), who disappeared without a trace more than a decade ago.
Lorrin Whitehead was last seen purchasing some items at a supermarket shortly before disappearing without a trace in February 2013.
‘But while we do that, we must keep an open mind.
“We are looking for certain objects that are of interest to us, but we are also looking for Lorrin’s remains.”
It is still unclear what specific information led police to search private property in Shelford, the Herald of the sun reported.
“Today is just another thing we’re doing to follow up on every piece of information,” Sergeant Murphy said.
‘The area of today’s search is not an area that people walk through regularly, so we are hopeful that there may be some sign of Lorrin here even after all these years.
“I can only begin to imagine how difficult the last 12 years have been for Lorrin’s family and loved ones not having any answers as to why or how she disappeared.”
Ms Whitehead (pictured) was last seen sitting in the driver’s seat of a red four-wheel drive vehicle in the Bannockburn business district near Geelong in southern Victoria on 8 February 2013.
Police released a computer-generated image of what the 53-year-old mother of five would look like today.
His bank accounts have not been used since the day he disappeared and his work phone was found inside his home.
A second witness reported seeing a red 4×4 parked in the nature strip on Lorrin’s property during the weekend of her disappearance.
Police launched an information appeal last year for more information about the vehicle as Ms Whitehead did not have a red 4×4 at the time of her disappearance.
Whitehead’s eldest daughter, Amelia Grozdanovski, was just 11 years old when her mother disappeared.
‘We are no wiser. “We have not had clear leads, although we have had many people who have provided information, theories and useful comments,” he told ABC last year.
Sgt Murphy said police have continued to receive new information and have spoken to people who knew Ms Whitehead about her disappearance.
Homicide Squad investigators are not part of the renewed search effort.
The owners of the registered land are not involved in the investigation and gave the police permission to search their property.
Anyone with information about Ms Whitehead’s disappearance is asked to call Crime Stoppers.