A distinctive lanyard found alongside SH4 has been identified as belonging to missing Marice McGregor.
The discovery was made on Thursday, 6 May, by a culvert south of Otoko Pa and about 26km north of Lismore Forest where Marice was last seen and her car was found abandoned.
A university lecturer and some students collecting stream insect samples in the area found the lanyard lying on a patch of grass. They handed it in to Ohakune Police station who then contacted the investigation team at Whanganui.
The purple Relay for Life lanyard with a small teddy bear and keys attached has now been identified as Marice's. It is the lanyard that she is also known to have carried her phone on. Her phone which was activated briefly in Feilding the day after Marice vanished has still not been found.
A search of the area in which the lanyard was found has been carried out and there is no sign of Marice in that area.
Detective Senior Sergeant Gwynne Pennell, said: "The lanyard is a significant find and is a marvellous example of how the public can assist us. Without the lecturer taking the time to hand the lanyard into a police station and without the police officer paying enough attention to detail to make the connection, it could so easily have gone unnoticed. It is that sort of assistance that is going to help us to find Marice.
Unfortunately the lanyard also adds weight to the suspicion of Marice's disappearance. Marice clearly didn't walk that distance. The location of the lanyard is consistent with it being thrown there; most likely from a moving vehicle.
"We strongly believe that at some point on 19 April Marice has got into a vehicle at some point on the 19th April. We are still seeking sightings of a green and silver Mitsubishi people mover on the 19th and 20th, the vehicle that has been central to our public appeal."
Officers have been up as far as Raetihi canvassing for potential witnesses and since the discovery of the lanyard more searches have been carried out in areas north of the culvert. An area canvas is also being carried out in Feilding.
On Monday retired Detective Inspector Graham Bell and a television production team from Police Ten-7 spent the day in Whanganui, Marton and Feilding filming a feature about the disappearance of Marice McGregor which will feature on the show tomorrow night (TV2 at 7.30pm).
Anyone with information is asked to contact Whanganui Police on 06 349 0600. Alternatively information can be provided anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
Media enquiries should be referred to Communications Manager Kim Perks on 027 234 8256.
