Karen Ristevski has been missing for almost a month as police step up search
A MANNEQUIN looking like a missing woman may seem eerie, but it’s the latest desperate attempt by police to find her.
A MANNEQUIN looking like missing woman Karen Ristevski may seem eerie, but it’s the latest desperate attempt by police to find her.
Dressed in clothes similar to the ones Mrs Ristevski was last seen in and carrying a replica of her bag and purse, police hope the mannequin may lead to vital information.
Her daughter, husband and police have been asking where Mrs Ristevski is for nearly a month.
And yet, there are still no answers to their questions about what happened to her when she walked out of the family’s Avondale Heights home in Melbourne’s northwest on June 29.
There have been no strong leads for police but they did have one critical person of interest who has suddenly gone to ground, according to the Herald Sun.
Police have not revealed who this person of interest is and would not comment on speculations surrounding Mrs Ristevski’s husband and stepson, who have both been interviewed by police.
There is no suggestion either of them were involved in her disappearance.
The mannequin is standing next to an information caravan on Milleara Road near Buckley Street in Avondale Heights, a place where police hope to get new details.
Detectives will also hand out flyers and knock on doors in the Avondale Heights area.
Victoria police Detective Inspector Stephen Dennis told media the woman’s disappearance was still being treated as a missing persons case and not murder.
Mrs Ristevski, 47, has not accessed her bank accounts since she disappeared and her mobile phone is switched off.
Mrs Ristevski was last seen leaving her $1.1 million home after an argument with her husband over financial problems.
She left to get some fresh air and according to her husband Borce, it was something she did often.
CCTV footage around the home did not capture her leaving but it is believed the cameras were not working at the time.
Mr Ristevski was questioned by police about his wife’s disappearance earlier this month and was released pending further inquiries.
Last week Mrs Ristevski’s stepson Anthony Rickard, who is struggling with an ice addiction, told the Herald Sun he had also been questioned by police but denied being involved in his stepmother’s disappearance, despite being angry over a family dispute.
He claimed the mother had plans to leave her husband after her daughter Sarah turned 21 — she celebrated the milestone birthday earlier this year.
Mr Ristevski and his daughter Sarah appealed for information earlier this month when a Channel 7 reporter asked the husband if he killed his wife.
Mrs Ristevski’s aunt Patricia said “That’s really not appropriate at the moment ... honestly, I have to say, that is really inappropriate ... this is about Karen, this isn't about anything else, this is about finding Karen.”
The Australian revealed last week the family was in hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt.
Mrs Ristevski owns the Bella Bleu boutique in Broadmeadows in Melbourne’s north, and it was reported real estate group Vicinity and financial company Perpetual lodged a caveat over the Ristevskis’ home, meaning it can’t be sold or transferred into another name.
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, in Melbourne’s northwest.
Anyone with information should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report at crimestoppersvic.com.au
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