The search for Jessica Zrinski’s body in a lonely forest

An expert has revealed a clue to where suspected murder victim Jessica Zrinski was likely dumped or left to die in the 15,000 hectare expanse of a cold, lonely forest. SEE THE VIDEO

Below zero daytime temperatures. Wild animals. Uneven, mud-packed trails. Dense foliage, punctuated by ferns, pine and gumtrees.

The 15,000 hectare expanse where suspected murder victim Jessica Zrinski was likely dumped or left to die in November 2022 is cold and lonely.

So isolated are the Hampton and Jenolan state forests, west of Sydney, she could have been screaming for hours and no one would have heard her.

Investigators say she could be anywhere within 100m from the side of the forest roadways, but because of the thick terrain, that barely narrows any search area down.

Jessica Zrinski, aged 30, was reported missing to police on December 3, 2022. Her family fear her body was dumped in a cold and lonely forest in the Blue Mountains.

To get an idea of where Jessica’s body could be, 4WD enthusiast Marcus Wollaston drove investigative journalist Ashlea Hansen through the forests – just beyond the famed Blue Mountains National Park – on unsealed roads.

4WD expert Marcus Wollaston. Picture: Julian Andrews.

Rather than hiding her remains in the state forests, where pine trees are harvested every few years, Marcus said it’s even possible Jessica was hidden in a dense area of national park only frequented by motorbike riders and 4WD’s.

However, he noted the suspect, in the Holden commodore police believe he was driving the night Jessica vanished, couldn’t have travelled too far off road.

“If he knew the area a little bit, he would know it gets very rough,” Marcus said.

“If it was wet and boggy, some of the potholes are quite deep and he would have got stuck in them.”

Police search during investigation into disappearance of Jessica Zrinski in December 2022.

Jessica Zrinski went missing in December 2022. A search was conducted into her disappearance.

The trails are so uneven that Marcus’ 4WD, which is made to navigate rough environments, skidded down a mud slope, on his trip with Ashlea, and eventually got bogged.

Referring to CCTV of the blue Holden captured at a Mt Victoria petrol station after Jessica’s suspected murder, Marcus said the vehicle appeared relatively clean and mud-free, which indicates it probably didn’t go off-road.

“There was no mud up the side of the car or anything, so he stayed on the main roads,” Marcus said.

“He hasn’t gone bush.”

Marcus said it’s possible Jessica’s body was dragged from the car off the unsealed forest roads, but the terrain is so rough that it would have been very difficult.

Wild animals would have been attracted to her body when it was first dumped, which means search teams would more likely find Jessica’s clothing rather than a full skeleton.

Jessica Zrinkski’s Uncle and Aunt, Vlad and Robyn, visit for the first time the forestry plantation close to Jenolan Caves, near the Blue Mountains, where police centred their original search. Picture: Julian Andrews

Jessica’s aunt, Robyn (surname withheld), who also went to the forest with Ashlea, was alarmed to think her 30-year-old niece could have been screaming for hours, helplessly.

“We’ve been out here all day before and there’s not been another car, so it just gives you an idea of how desolate it is and how you can spend a lot of time out here, alone, and not have anyone bother you,” she said.

“It’s quite confronting in itself that she could have been out here screaming.”

Robyn and Jessica’s uncle, Vlad, know they probably won’t find all her remains, but any trace of her would be enough to allow the family to hold a funeral.

As they stood in the forest, it started to snow.

Robyn said: “We’re going to get snowed on, and Jess is out here.”

You can also donate to the family’s GoFundMe campaign.

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Originally published as The search for Jessica Zrinski’s body in a lonely forest