Rebecca Hayward family 'devastated' as NT search comes to standstill
- Details
- Category: Tennant Creek
- Created: Friday, 03 February 2017 05:08
- Written by Tom Maddocks - ABC NT News
Eric Hayward and his daughter Angel hold a picture of missing family member Rachel Hayward.
The family of missing West Australian woman Rebecca Hayward, who disappeared during a visit to Alice Springs, say they are "desperate for information", as police admit a month later they are no closer to finding her.
The 34-year-old mother flew from Perth to Alice Springs in the Northern Territory to visit family on New Year's Day and was spotted three times walking along the Stuart Highway several kilometres north of the town on January 2.
Her family are still in shock.
"We are desperate for information. We need somebody to come forward, someone that has seen something," her older brother, Eric Hayward, said.
It was her first visit to Alice Springs.
"She's a compulsive walker. She walks long distances and it's not uncommon for her to be walking 10 or 15 kilometres," Mr Hayward said.
"But in an unknown area — she was only there for a day and a night — she may have well have just wandered off."
Frustrated detectives said they were no closer to finding her.
"To date things have actually slowed down," Detective Senior Sergeant Allan Milner said.
"We're hoping by talking to the public again it'll generate enough interest that someone could or may come forward.
"We've had a number of sightings that have returned negative results unfortunately."
Rebecca 'just needed a break', brother says.
Mr Hayward said his sister needed some time away from her home in Perth when she travelled to Alice Springs.
"I don't think it was a long-term thing, I think she just needed a break from Western Australia," he said.
"Something's gone wrong and we just don't know what's happened to her."
NT Police said in one of the three sightings, Ms Hayward was spotted by two doctors who were returning to Alice Springs.
It is understood they stopped and spoke to her, and provided her with a bottle of water.
"They were concerned but there was no information at the time that she was missing," Sergeant Milner said.
"They believed that she was alright, nothing out of the ordinary."
A mother of young children, Ms Hayward is part of a large Aboriginal family in WA.
"She had a lot going for her and as a young person we are devastated not to know what has happened to her," Mr Hayward said.
"Rebecca, we miss you, we love you."
Ms Hayward is Indigenous, with an olive complexion, long dark straight hair, brown eyes, medium build and is about 173cm tall.
She was last seen wearing blue denim shorts rolled up to the knees, a green T-shirt and thongs.
Source : http://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2017-02-03/family-devastated-missing-woman-rebecca-hayward/8240506?pfmredir=sm
