Young mum and baby found after more than a week missing
UPDATE: A young mother and her baby have been found safe and well after being missing for more than a week.
Centralian Advocate
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UPDATE: A young mother and her baby have been found safe and well after being missing for more than a week.
The NT Police Fire and Emergency Services Alice Springs and Southern division announced at around 6.30pm that 17-year-old Makasha Prayta and her one-year-old baby had been found.
EARLIER: TERRITORY Police have found the vehicle a teenager and her baby, who were last seen in Alice Springs more than a week ago, were believed to have been travelling in.
Family members told police that 17-year-old Makasha Prayta left home with her one year-old child, Shontayhia, travelling to the cross-border region of Western Australia on Saturday, October 24.
An NT Police spokeswoman said police held serious concerns for the wellbeing of the pair, who could be in Alice Springs.
She said police were “actively speaking with family and acquaintances in Alice Springs and surrounding communities, of which she has known links to, in order to establish Makasha’s location”.
“Advice from the public indicated the vehicle they were believed to be travelling in (a blue Holden VT Commodore) was in Alice Springs. Police located the vehicle and checked the passengers but unfortunately Makasha and her child were not in the vehicle.
“Social media traffic suggests Makasha is in Alice Springs and police continue to conduct inquiries to locate her.
“Initial inquiries indicate Makasha may not be aware of the seriousness of the concerns of which police hold for her, and we urge anyone who is in contact with Makasha to encourage her to contact police or family to confirm the wellbeing of herself and her child.
“We appreciate the co-operation of the community.”
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Initial inquiries indicated Makasha may have links to the communities of Ntaria, also known as Hermannsburg, or Warburton.
On Monday NT Police said they were investigating her potential whereabouts in both the NT and in WA, after initial investigations indicated she had links to the community of Warburton in Western Australia.
“Appropriate notifications to police there have been made,” a spokeswoman said.
Weather conditions across Central Australia have been incredibly hot in the time since Makasha and her child were last seen, reaching temperatures as high as 38C last week and 39C today and tomorrow (Wednesday).
Conditions in Warburton in WA are forecast in the mid to high 30s for the remainder of the week.
Makasha is described as an Aboriginal female with a slim build, brown eyes and shoulder length wavy hair.
Police urge anyone with information as to the whereabouts of Makasha and Shontayhia to contact them on 131 444 or report it anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 and reference PROMIS number 9463864.
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