Detectives search near Mildura for murder victim’s remains
Pictures show detectives using earth moving equipment to clear bushland near Mildura as the search for missing murder victim Melbourne woman Jodie Larcombe continues.
Mildura
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Homicide detectives continue to search scrubland near Mildura for the remains of murder victim Jodie Maree Larcombe.
Police started the search Friday morning at Mourquong for the remains of the Melbourne woman, then aged 21, who was last seen on December 22, 1987.
Members of NSW Police were on Monday using rakes and earth moving equipment after clearing grass, scrub and branches along the eastern side of Arumpo Rd on Friday.
Strike Force Turret detectives are being assisted in the search by officers from the Western Region, Forensic Evidence and Technical Services Command, Public Order and Riot Squad and the Dog Unit.
The search is taking place along the eastern side of Arumpo Rd, near the intersection with the Silver City Highway, and is expected to continue across the coming days.
The intersection is about 4km by road from the Victorian border, between the towns of Buronga and Dareton.
Member for Murray Helen Dalton, whose electorate includes Mourquong, said Ms Larcombe’s family needed closure.
“It doesn’t matter how long ago this occurred, her family is still feeling immense pain and deserve answers and some closure,” she said.
NSW detectives arrested and charged Daryl Sucking – then aged 50 – over Ms Larcombe’s murder in 1994. In 1996, Suckling was convicted and sentenced to life in prison, where he remains.
Jodie’s father, Ken Larcombe, thanked police for their ongoing commitment to finding his daughter.
“The pain of losing a child never leaves you and there has always been a hole in our hearts as we were never able to farewell Jodie and lay her to rest,” Mr Larcombe said.
Since Ms Larcombe’s disappearance, NSW Police have searched remote bushland in the Mildura area, in an effort to locate her remains.
Earlier this year, detectives from the State Crime Command’s Homicide Squad established Strike Force Turret after receiving new information relating to the possible location of Ms Larcombe’s remains.
Last month, detectives travelled to Mourquong to conduct initial inquiries into the location and they returned early Friday for a forensic land search of the area.
The search is expected to continue for several days.
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