Joon Seong Tan charged with murder of girlfriend Ju Zhang after arrest sparks search area shift

Police have charged a 35-year-old man with his missing girlfriend’s murder as they searched a creek after arresting him at Melbourne Airport.

Police have charged a 35-year-old man with his girlfriend’s murder as they narrowed their search for the missing mother to a creek after arresting him at Melbourne Airport.

Joon Seong Tan, from Doncaster in Melbourne’s northeast, has been has been charged with one count of murder in connection with the disappearance of Ju ‘Kelly’ Zhang.

He will face Melbourne Magistrates’ Court tomorrow, Victoria Police said in a statement.

Mr Tan was arrested by police at Melbourne Airport about 6.15pm on Wednesday night as he allegedly tried to leave the country.

Ju ‘Kelly’ Zhang was last seen wearing a Pink pyjama top and shorts.

Doncaster man Joon Seong Tan was arrested at Melbourne Airport.

It came as officers from the missing persons and search and rescue squads launched a search of the Darebin Creek Reserve near Seddon Reserve at Ivanhoe West in Melbourne’s north.

Ms Zhang was last seen at her Winchester Ave home in Epping, in Melbourne’s northern suburbs, about 5.30pm on February 1.

Police described Ms Zhang’s disappearance as “extremely out of character”.

Mr Tan was in a relationship with Ms Zhang.

He was previously taken into custody on Sunday and interviewed by detectives, before being released on Monday evening without charge.

The mother vanished a week ago from her home in Melbourne north while dressed in her pyjamas.

Ms Zhang did not have any personal belongings with her when she went missing except her mobile phone.

She was reported missing to police on Tuesday evening.

Detectives have appealed for residents in the Epping and Doncaster areas to check their CCTV footage from the afternoon of February 1.

Joon Seong Tan was arrested at Melbourne Airport on Wednesday evening. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Luis Ascui

The are looking for any footage that captures Mr Tan’s black 2008 Mazda CX9 station wagon, with registration WKE 850, or a white Toyota Land Cruiser.

Both vehicles are believed to have travelled through both areas sometime between 4pm on February 1 and 8am on February 2.

Detectives are also keen to speak to anyone who witnessed any suspicious activity in the Darebin Creek Reserve area in Ivanhoe West on February 1 and 2.

Police said the investigation was ongoing and anyone who sees Ms Zhang has been urged to contact triple-0 immediately.

Anyone with other information should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

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Originally published as Joon Seong Tan charged with murder of girlfriend Ju Zhang after arrest sparks search area shift