Warburton missing woman: Susan Cashmore last seen on Donna Buang Road

A woman’s body has been found after an extensive 10-day search for a missing Warburton grandmother.

SES search for missing woman Susan Shaw. Picture: David Crosling

A woman’s body has been found in bushland near where a Warburton grandmother went missing.

The body has yet to be formally identified but Victoria Police are investigating if it is Susan Cashmore, who was last seen about 1.40am on Saturday, November 28.

More than 120 emergency service members, community and family have been searching for the 67-year-old, also known as Susan Shaw for 10 days.

Police media advisor Natalie Webster said the body was found about 12.40pm on Tuesday, December 8, and the exact circumstances regarding the woman’s death were yet to be determined.

Ms Webster said detectives from the Missing Persons Squad would attend the scene.

Lilydale & Yarra Valley Leader previously reported police had called on residents and holiday makers to check their houses, sheds and properties in case the grandmother was taking shelter.

Specialist teams were searching dense bushland within 1km of where Ms Cashmore was last seen.

The search crews, including the woman’s family, are also spread out covering the aqueduct and around a 15km radius of the last sighting point.

She was wearing a dark coloured cardigan, blue pants that could have been jeans, and bright pink gumboots when she disappeared.

HOLIDAY HOME OWNERS URGED TO CHECK PROPERTIES

Yarra Ranges Senior Sergeant Peter Muys previously said police were heading up to Yarra Junction Woolworths to check the most recent CCTV after a tip about a possible sighting of Ms Cashmore.

Susan Shaw is also known as Susan Cashmore. Supplied: Victoria Police

Sen-Sgt Muys said while investigators had exhausted all CCTV from the time the grandmother went missing, they would check any recent footage connected to tip-offs.

He said a percentage of properties in the region were unoccupied and used as holiday homes.

“If she’s being reclusive she could be in one of those,” Sen-Sgt Muys said.

“We’re appealing to anyone who might own or occupy one of these residences in the Yarra Valley to check to make sure no one is inside.

Sen-Sgt Muys said if Ms Cashmore was given a lift, she could be saying in one of these homes.

“If they hold water it could be where she’s residing,” he said.

Leader previously reported police appealed to anyone who might have dashcam footage or who gave Ms Cashmore a lift after she was last seen.

CONCERNS OVER GRANDMOTHER’S MENTAL HEALTH FOLLOWING LOCKDOWN

Sen-Sgt Muys said police were able to talk to a nearby camper who was not able to give them further information on the disappearance.

He said police were concerned for Ms Cashmore’s declining mental health and increasing reclusiveness following COVID lockdown.

Sen-Sgt Muys said police believe restrictions had a negative impact on the grandmother despite the family’s best efforts.

He said police were looking into a number of possibilities including that Ms Cashmore could be lying low and waiting for someone to find her.

“If she’s in a state of paranoia or reclusive she might not want to be found,” Sen-Sgt Muys said.

He said emergency services were out in force checking bush, tracks and streets around the area.

Sen-Sgt Muys said drones were being used, and specialist search and rescue dogs trained to find and track a scent were starting tomorrow.

He said search crews were particularly focusing on the pink gumboots Ms Cashmore was wearing when she disappeared.

Missing person Susan Shaw. Supplied: Victoria Police

“She’s about 50kg and 165cm, so she is very slight and small,” he said.

He said Ms Cashmore often shopped in nearby Yarra Junction.

“We need everyone to know this search is not confined to Warburton,” he said.

“If she’s had a moment of clarity and she’s got a lift with someone, she could be anywhere.”

Warburton Sergeant Jason Kelly previously told Leader any members of the public who were keen to help with the search needed to check in with officers at the police station who were co-ordinating the search.

More than 100 emergency services including police officers from around the Yarra Valley, the Victoria Police dog squad and the air wing.

CFA and SES volunteers from within and outside the region, Parks Victoria and Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning crews are also on the ground.

Victoria Police media officer Sam Bidey previously said police and family were concerned for Ms Shaw’s welfare as her disappearance was out of character.