Search continues for missing Warrenheip woman Renee as daughter pleads for information

The daughter of a Ballarat woman who left her home in May and was last seen three weeks ago has made a public plea for any information that might help her know her mum is OK.

A Warrenheip woman who left her home more than five weeks ago is yet to be found, with her daughter appealing for any information so she can just “know that she's OK”.

Police continue to search for 42-year-old Renee, who was seen leaving her address on the Western Highway about 1.25pm on May 30 with her black cat Shadow in a carrier.

The cat was later found left outside a house while Renee went to a home on Buchanan Dr, Lucas about 6am on June 2.

She rang the doorbell and briefly spoke to a resident, asking for clothing and water before leaving.

Renee, who is believed to have an autoimmune disorder, was last seen on June 16 while temporarily staying at a Wendouree home.

She was described as caucasian, blonde-haired, of slim build, and about 170cm tall.

Anyone with information about Renee’s whereabouts should call Ballarat Police Station. Picture: Victoria Police

Renee’s daughter Bianca Tayla-King, 22, said she said had brief contact with her mum leading up to her disappearance.

“If there’s chance that my mum sees this, I just want her to know that even if she doesn’t want to be found, we just want to know that she's okay, and just for her to contact me or my brothers.

“... She didn’t say anything that would alarm any of us or that she’d be going missing.

“Just contact me and my brothers, and we just are really worried.”

“If she needs any help, we’re here to help.”

Bianca Tayla-King and Senior Constable Jack Hughes at Ballarat police station.

Police are not treating Renee’s disappearance as suspicious, but said she may be confused and deliberately avoiding police and other people.

They said Renee had not accessed her bank accounts in more than a month.

“Renee has been homeless before,” Senior Constable Jack Hughes said.

“Our main concern is that she has returned to living on the streets: given the weather, the fact she hasn’t acesssed her bank account, and we haven’t had any contact with her in several weeks now - almost three weeks, that’s our main concern.”

Renee left her address on the Western Highway on the afternoon of May 30, 2024. Picture: Victoria Police

Anyone with information should call Ballarat Police Station at [phone] or Crime Stoppers at 1800 333 000.

The case follows the disappearance of Ballarat mum of three Samantha Murphy in February, in an unrelated incident.

Search crews in May found a mud-soaked mobile phone on the bank of a dam in Buninyong.

A man has been charged with her murder but Ms Murphy’s body has not yet been found.