Grave concerns for mother and daughter who vanished after a pub meal

AN elderly mother and her daughter ate a pub lunch at a tavern in Victoria before they vanished six days ago. What happened to them?

POLICE fear for a mother and daughter missing from Benalla, Victoria. Judy Stephens (left) and mother Isabel Stephens haven’t been seen for six days.

AN ELDERLY mother and her daughter have not been seen since they ate lunch at a tavern in Victoria six days ago.

Isabel Stephens, 89, and Judy Stephens, 53, were last seen having a meal at the Tatong Tavern, just 27km from their hometown of Benalla, on Sunday.

They told pub owner Christopher McCabe they had plans to visit a relative that evening.

Mr McCabe said the pair finished their meals and left around 1pm on Sunday — and they have not been seen since.

“Isabel is a very intelligent, confident lady,” he said.

“People are worried for their welfare and if they are in good health.”

POLICE fear for a mother and daughter missing from Benalla, Victoria. Judy Stephens (left) and mother Isabel Stephens haven’t been seen for six days.

The family reported the mother and daughter missing on Tuesday and a search started that afternoon.

Mr McCabe said the mother and daughter didn’t seem distressed on Sunday.

He said his wife watched as the pair drove off towards their hometown of Benalla.

They could have taken any of the three main routes from Tatong to Benalla, all of which are surrounded by the region’s flat farming land.

Search parties have swept the mountain terrain, local ranges, nearby water courses and water storage facilities near where the women were last seen. Police, with assistance from Police Air Wing and SES, are continuing the search today.

Inspector Troy Hargadon said they wouldn’t stop until the women were found.

“The circumstances are out of character for the women,” he said on Wednesday.

“There is nothing to say they have been met with foul play.

“We understand there is a lot of speculation in the local community in relation to the whereabouts of Isabel and Judy but we are keeping an open mind and following up every lead possible.”

Mr Hargadon said it was “vital” for people to call police if they saw something.

“We are appealing for anyone in the community who thinks they have any information about what has happened to Isabel and Judy to come pop down to the information booth and have a chat to the local members.”

Anyone with info RE. Isabel and Judy Stephens is asked to come to the info booth in Bridge St today from 10am - 12pm https://t.co/gTrAjYbw7O pic.twitter.com/Olgdm9dyeJ

— Victoria Police (@VictoriaPolice) May 27, 2017

There are “serious concerns” for both women because of Isabel’s age and Judy’s intellectual disability and insulin dependency.

Locals have today opened an information booth in Bridge street with police urging anyone with information on the whereabouts of the pair to come forward.

The women are believed to be travelling in a 2007 Toyota Yaris with the registration number WAB580.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Benalla police station on 03 5760 0200.

— with wires

Originally published as Grave concerns for mother and daughter who vanished after a pub meal