Karen Ristevski’s clothing shop closed down before her disappearance due to rent arrears

MISSING Melbourne mum Karen Ristevski had one of her clothing boutiques shut down before she disappeared.

Karen Ristevski went missing on June 29.

MISSING Melbourne mum Karen Ristevski had one of her clothing boutiques shut down before she disappeared.

Mrs Ristevski mysteriously went missing on June 29 after having a fight with her husband Borce over financial issues.

She left their million dollar mansion in Avondale Heights in Melbourne’s northwest and never returned.

Since Mrs Ristevski went missing, small revelations about the months leading up to her disappearance have heightened the mystery.

She owned two fashion boutiques, Bella Bleu, in Taylors Lakes in Melbourne’s northwest and Broadmeadows in Melbourne’s north.

Last month The Australian reported the Ristevski family had been in about $600,000 debt for the past decade and real estate group Vicinity and financial company Perpetual lodged a caveat over the family’s $1.1 million home, meaning they can’t sell it or transfer it into another name.

The action was believed to have been taken because the family was falling behind in rent for the Broadmeadows store.

The Australian has now revealed in the months before Mrs Ristevski disappeared, her Bella Bleu store in Broadmeadows was shut down.

It is believed it shut earlier this year and The Australian reported if a business failed to pay rent the shopping centre could demand the payment or give shop owners 14 days before locking them out.

Police have held grave concerns for the missing mum but yesterday it was revealed her ice-addicted stepson Anthony Rickard suggested she ran away.

He’s previously said Mrs Ristevski had plans to leave her husband Borce after their daughter Sarah turned 21. She celebrated that birthday earlier this year.

In a police statement seen by The Australian, Mr Rickard said he had an unusual and troubled relationship with Mrs Ristevski.

He said the relationship between Mr and Mrs Ristevski was “fake” and they stayed together for image, money and their daughter.

In the statement Mr Rickard said “a situation developed between myself and Karen which I’d rather not fully detail at this time”.

He claimed he approached his father about the “situation” in 2006 but said Mr Ristevski ignored it and then kicked him out of home three to five times.

According to The Australian, Mr Rickard texted Mrs Ristevski two weeks before her disappearance telling her he was going to kill himself.

Both Mr Ristevski and Mr Rickard were questioned by police over Mrs Ristevski’s disappearance.

Mr Rickard told the Herald Sun he did not kill her and was not involved.

Mr Ristevski was released pending further inquiries.

In a press conference appealing for information about Mrs Ristevski’s whereabouts, a Channel 7 reporter asked the husband if he killed his wife.

Family members were distressed and said it was a very inappropriate question.

There is no suggestions Mr Ristevski or Mr Rickard had anything to do with the disappearance.

Mrs Ristevski is 160cm tall, with a slim build and shoulder length brown hair.

She was last seen wearing a black jacket and jeans and is known to frequent Taylors Lakes.

She hasn’t used her mobile phone or accessed her bank account since she went missing.

Anyone with information should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report at crimestoppersvic.com.au.