Fears of 'foul play' after missing Adelaide mum leaves behind chilling note
The search continues for an Adelaide woman who mysteriously disappeared two weeks ago just days before her car and belongings were discovered abandoned in northern Victoria.
A diary belonging to Colleen South, from the northwestern Adelaide suburb of Queenstown, was reportedly located metres from her car, along with her handbag. On a page at the back of the diary was a chilling message, "help me please", 7 News reported last week.
The 58-year-old was reported missing after failing to move into her new home on June 30, police said. She was last seen in the Adelaide suburb of Renown Park on July 1 where she was captured on CCTV.
Her car — a 2006 Hyundai Getz hatchback — was located abandoned in a ditch off Mackies Road, Bunguluke 15kms east of Wycheproof in Victoria, on July 3, but there's been no sign of Colleen's whereabouts.
South Australia Police believe Colleen travelled on her own to rural Victoria and believe that no other person is involved in her disappearance.
But the discovery of the note has sparked more concern for her friends and family who are desperate to get her home.
In a post on Facebook, her daughter Veronica South said she is "very worried" for her mum's safety.
"After an extensive search from the police they could not find any trace of her, " she wrote in a group dedicated to finding her mum.
"Her family and friends need her home."
Victoria Police have been assisting South Australia Police with the search and officially took over on July 15, the Herald Sun reported.
A comprehensive search of dense bushland in the surrounding area commenced, Victoria Police confirmed in a statement on Monday. But there were no further clues.
"Local farmers were also asked to check buildings and sheds on their properties," the statement read.
"Police and family have concerns for the 58-year-old grandmother as she has a medical condition and her disappearance is out of character."
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On Thursday, Veronica shared her theory as to what might have happened to her mum.
Despite the authorities not treating Colleen's disappearance as suspicious, her family suggests there might have been foul play.
"We believe that someone has picked her up because it is so out of the ordinary for her to leave her belongings there with no traces of her," Veronica South said, the ABC reported.
"She could have been writing and she wrote 'please help me' on the back of her notebook.
"She could have been writing and someone pulled up beside her, and she could have gone in the car because whenever she goes on holidays she's very friendly and very vulnerable and that's what we're concerned about."
Meanwhile, her niece Farah Mak told the Herald Sun, "we believe foul play is involved".
Colleen was last seen wearing a black and white striped shirt with blue jeans. She is about 154cm tall, of solid build, and has brown hair and green eyes.
Police urge anyone who sees her or has any information on her whereabouts, to contact Swan Hill Police Station on (03) 5036 1600, or CrimeStoppers on 1800 333 000.
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