Body of missing Avondale Heights mum Karen Ristevski found

POLICE have confirmed a body found in bushland yesterday is that of missing Melbourne mum Karen Ristevski. Armed with a single rose, her brother today visited the spot where she was found.

POLICE have confirmed a body found in bushland yesterday is that of missing mum Karen Ristevski.

Officers visited the family this afternoon, following the discovery of a woman’s body yesterday in Macedon Regional Park.

Two detectives from the missing persons squad arrived at the Ristevski family home shortly after 4.30pm.

Victoria Police said this afternoon forensic testing had confirmed the body belonged to Ms Ristevski, who has been missing since June last year.

Police arrive at the Ristevski house in Avondale Heights a day after a body was found outside Macedon. Picture: Mark Stewart

The spot where Ms Ristevski’s body was found was off a dirt road. Picture: Nicole Garmston

While police officers were at the family home, Mrs Ristevski’s brother visited the site where a woman’s body was found in Melbourne’s north west yesterday.

Stephen Williams, who was carrying a red rose in his back pocket, spent close to two hours walking the dirt track off Loch Rd in Mount Macedon.

Mr Williams, who declined to give a comment, is Ms Ristevski’s only sibling.

Police said they conducted a line search at the scene today and want to speak to anyone that may have seen any suspicious activity in that area.

KAREN RISTEVSKI CASE: THE STORY SO FAR

Karen Ristevski’s body was found near Mount Macedon.

“Missing Persons Squad detectives are appealing for anyone that may have been walking along the dirt track off Loch Road or anyone that may have seen any vehicles to contact them,” police said.

“Investigators are also hoping to speak to anyone that may have been at Mount Macedon any time from June last year and took photos or any video footage in the area.”

Mrs Ristevski’s husband Borce Ristevski and their daughter Sarah have remained at the Avondale Heights home since the suspicious disappearance eight months ago.

Mr Ristevski told the Herald Sun last year his wife walked out to “clear her head” after an argument over money.

A walker stumbled across decomposed remains, believed to be those of a woman, jammed under a log at 12.30pm yesterday in the Macedon Regional Park.

Daughter Sarah, Karen Ristevski and husband Borce.

SES arrive to do a line search to look for further evidence. Picture: Nicole Garmston

Karen's husband Borce Ristevski. Picture: Eugene Hyland

The scene is 52km from the Avondale Heights home where Ms Ristevski was last seen on June 29 last year.

The Herald Sun revealed last August that Mrs Ristevski’s mobile phone “pinged “ off transmission towers on the Calder Highway, near Gisborne, on the day she vanished.

MOBILE PHONE OF KAREN ­RISTEVSKI TRACKED TO NEAR GISBORNE

Karen Ristevski has not been seen since last June.

The spot where the body was found yesterday is several kilometres from the nearest Calder turn-off.

Dozens of police and forensics experts spent hours at Loch Rd last night, examining the scene before the body was removed for a post-mortem examination.

Loch Rd, the nearest road to where the body was discovered, is used by ­bushwalkers, cyclists, horseriders and four-wheel-drive ­enthusiasts.

The Ristevski case has generated massive public interest since Ms Ristevski disappearance nearly nine months ago.

Anyone with information is urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.