Missing mum Karen Ristevski police probe steps up amid ‘silence’
EXCLUSIVE: POLICE investigating the Karen Ristevski disappearance have met a “sudden wall of silence” from a person of interest, as a neighbour claims Mrs Ristevski’s husband asked about CCTV.
Law & Order
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DETECTIVES investigating the disappearance of Melbourne woman Karen Ristevski have been met with a “sudden wall of silence” from a crucial person of interest in the case.
Police officers will flood the local area on Wednesday in a push to make a breakthrough in unravelling the mystery.
It comes as a neighbour of the Ristevski family claims Mrs Ristevski’s husband Borce asked him on the day of his wife’s disappearance if he had any CCTV cameras at his house.
The Herald Sun can reveal:
AN information caravan will be set up in her home suburb of Avondale Heights.
OFFICERS will doorknock residents over a wide area.
POSTERS will be put up and flyers delivered to local homes and businesses.
One person of interest in the case has suddenly stopped talking to police.
Last week, detectives from the Missing Persons Squad interviewed Mrs Ristevski’s stepson, Anthony Rickard, who is co-operating with police.
They spoke to the 32-year-old at length, and the Herald Sun understands they found what he said about a family conflict to be credible.
Mr Rickard denies having anything whatsoever to do with his stepmother’s disappearance.
During his police interview, Mr Rickard made a number of allegations, which detectives are taking seriously.
That police interview came two weeks after Mr Rickard’s father, Borce, was interviewed over his wife’s disappearance, in what is standard police practice.
A neighbour today said Mr Ristevski asked about CCTV cameras around the time of his wife’s disappearance.
“He introduced himself calmly, but worried look... Saying my wife has just gone missing,” the neighbour said.
“He wanted to know if we had a video from our home of the street to see maybe when she had walked off or gone missing ... he went knocking and asked the whole street if they had videos of it.
“The police came and asked us the same thing too ... But we don’t have cameras.”
The neighbour said he had never seen the “young” family close up before, until Mr Ristevski approached them about the cameras.
“The first time I saw them all clearly was in the paper... It’s very very sad, I feel so sorry for this woman especially her poor daughter.”
MISSING MELBOURNE MUM STEPSON TWIST
Detective Inspector Stephen Dennis, of the Missing Persons Squad, said he did not know about the neighbour’s claims regarding CCTV.
“I’m not aware of that but we will certainly follow up any information that comes to us,” he said.
“If anybody has any CCTV footage which may be relevant to Karen’s disappearance come forward to police.”
Police are currently reviewing CCTV footage to see if it provides any clues.
“Police are out here today, setting up an information caravan and canvassing the neighbourhood, in an effort to try and get further information in relation to the disappearance of Karen Ristevski.
“Karen has been missing since June 29. It is a month down the track now and we are certainly keen for any information in relation to her whereabouts or disappearance.
“We have spoken to a number of people and the investigation is ongoing. We will continue to make inquiries.
“I believe that somebody out there has some information.
“I would encourage anybody with information, whether it is a member of the family or somebody who knows the family, to come forward.”
Insp Dennis said police were still hopeful Mrs Ristevski would be found alive.
“But as time goes on it certainly becomes increasingly more difficult,” he said.
Insp Dennis said the search of the area behind the Ristevski family home earlier this month failed to yield anything.
“We have spoken to members of her family and other people as well,” he said.
The police activity today will be focused on the area in and around Milleara Rd, close to the Ristevski family home.
It is now almost a month since the mother of one vanished, leaving her Oakley Drive home following an argument with her husband.
Police are hopeful their push today will yield fresh evidence, which will help solve what happened to Mrs Ristevski. Detectives are keen to speak to a female dog walker who said she had been accosted by a strange man along the footpath behind the Ristevski house.
Mrs Ristevski, 47, was last seen after walking from her family’s luxury home at 10am on June 29.
She has made no ATM transactions since then, although it is understood she was carrying $850 in cash.
Investigators have been unable to track her mobile phone, which is switched off.
Mrs Ristevski is believed to have been discussing business finances with her husband before leaving.
Days after his wife disappeared, Mr Ristevski said his wife would sometimes walk off from their house to cool off.
In an interview with the Herald Sun on Saturday, Anthony Rickard said he did not kill his stepmother.
But he did admit to having a motive to hurt her — anger over a family conflict.
He admits battling an ice addiction, and said Mrs Ristevski had spoken in the past about making plans to leave the family.
He also said he phoned Mrs Ristevski about 10 days before she vanished, to confront her about the family conflict, which he says has been “swept under the carpet”.
Anyone with information should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or go to crimestoppersvic.com.au