Police hunt for missing Melbourne woman Karen Ristevski

HER family are living a “nightmare” but police say no new searches are planned for missing Melbourne mum Karen Ristevski.

THE family of missing Melbourne mum Karen Ristevski are clinging to hope she is still alive, but police say they are not planning to widen the search area for her.

A police spokesman told news.com.au there were no plans to search any other locations aside from the ones currently been scoured by police, SES crews and water police.

Ms Ristevski was last seen at her home about 10am on June 29 and hasn’t used her phone or accessed her bank accounts since.

It’s believed the 47-year-old left the home to get some fresh air after a heated discussion with her husband Borce.

Neighbours have said they didn’t see her leaving her home on June 29 and no one in the area had reported seeing her walking.

Police have so far focused attention on the Maribyrnong River and bushland behind the family’s Avondale Heights home.

The Herald Sun reported on Friday that police were planning to focus their search on another location, with detectives hopeful the second search area could lead to a breakthrough in the mystery.

But police said no new searches were planned. The spokesman could not say why the search area would not change when so far nothing had been found in the present locations.

Karen Ristevski.

Karen with close friend Samuel Johnson.

“It is a nightmare. Someone doesn’t just disappear like this. It’s not Karen, she would not leave us,” Ms Ristevski’s aunt Patricia told reporters on Thursday.

SES crews, water police and police on motorbikes searched the Maribyrnong River and surrounding areas on Thursday for clues. Police questioned Mr Ristevski last week over the disappearance, and he was released pending further inquiries.

Her mobile phone and gold handbag are also missing.

Ms Ristevski’s husband and daughter Sarah Ristevski joined Patricia at a press conference yesterday that ended abruptly when a reporter asked the husband if he had killed his wife.

Patricia was distressed when the reporter asked the husband the question.

“That’s really not appropriate at the moment ... honestly, I have to say, that is really inappropriate ... this is about Karen, this is not about anything else, this is about finding Karen.”

The family immediately stopped the press conference, with Mr Ristevski not commenting and his daughter in tears.

Actor Samuel Johnson, a friend of Ms Ristevski, has pleaded for her safe ­return.

Mr Johnson said Mrs Ristevski was a “community champion” who is “universally loved”.

— with AAP