Fears that mother-of-four Samantha Kelly will not be found alive

BIZARRE details about Samantha Kelly’s disappearance have emerged, and police have grave fears about her fate.

Missing Bendigo mum Samantha Kelly. Image supplied by Wes Hosking

IT’S only been a week since Samantha Kelly’s mysterious disappearance was reported, but it’s fast becoming a really bizarre case.

Homicide detectives are probing the mystery surrounding the missing Kangaroo Flat mother, who was last seen January 20, just days before her daughter’s first birthday.

What we know so far is her disappearance was not actually reported until about two weeks since she was last seen at the Kangaroo Flat shopping centre precinct about 3.20pm.

There were however some unconfirmed sightings of the 39-year-old between January 20 and 23.

Her disappearance is said to be very out of character for the mother-of-four and police have grave fears for her welfare.

Ms Kelly only moved to the Victorian suburb less than six months ago with her four children: Hermione, 6, Ethan, 5, Indi, 4 and Annabella, 1.

“Her kids are her life,” the woman’s brother Michael told The Herald Sun. “Something’s not right”.

Mr Kelly and his wife are now caring for the children.

“I am hoping we can find my sister safe. That is what is keeping us going at the moment,” he said.

“But our gut feeling is that she is not here. I am not expecting to find her alive”.

What we don’t know is why it took so long for this missing person to be reported.

The mother was living with several adults at the time but it was her NSW-based older brother who alerted police.

Police told the Herald Sun the hesitation in reporting the missing woman could impact on the investigation.

“The delay in reporting does have an impact on people’s memory and our ability to gain certain evidence but we are confident there are people that have contact with Samantha that will contact us,” Homicide Squad Detective Senior-Sergeant Shane O’Connell said.

If that didn’t have police already scratching their heads, new claims that have come to light certainly are a twist in the investigation.

Missing mum Samantha Kelly.

The shopping strip on High St, Kangaroo Flat where Ms Kelly was last seen. Picture: Nicole Garmston

Fairfax Media reports there have been suggestions Ms Kelly’s children have had their heads shaved and names changed.

Mr Kelly told Fairfax Media two of the older children were called different names and claiming a different woman, Christine Lyons, was their mother.

Ms Lyons was one of the adults Ms Kelly was living with when she disappeared.

Two brothers are both fathers to Ms Kelly’s children and Fairfax Media reports Ms Lyons is related to them.

According to Ms Lyon’s husband, Peter Arthur, Ms Kelly changed the children’s names before Christmas.

Fairfax Media reports Ms Lyon wrote on Facebook that she tells the children to call her “aunty” and she cut their hair short because of nits.

Ms Lyons told the Herald Sun she last saw Ms Kelly on January 23, when she left the home they lived at empty-handed.

“I was asleep on the couch,” she said.

“She come woke me up and told me she was going.

“She said to me: ‘I’m done. I’ve had it with everything. I'm done’.

“And that was all she said.

“I just want her to get found and come home.”

Police have released CCTV of the last confirmed sighting of Ms Kelly and anyone with information should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.

Family hope to find Ms Kelly alive. Picture: AAP Image/Victoria Police

Ms Kelly had tattoos of the names of her children.

The latest tattoo Ms Kelly had done on her shoulder.