Police 'lose sight' of dad before he shoots himself

Major Crime detectives are gearing up for a full-scale search as the tight-knit outback community of Mannahill comes to terms with the tragedy that has seen Tanja Ebert disappear and her husband take his own life.

Detectives had been questioning Michael Burdon about his wife's disappearance when he shot himself, dying without leaving a confession.

"Police momentarily lost sight of Michael and then very shortly after heard a muffled gun shot," Detective Superintendent Des Bray said.

Before his death, Mr Burdon told police he and Tanja were having marital problems and that she was considering leaving him.

A close friend of Tanja Ebert says the married couple were "two really good people" involved in a nightmare situation.

"It's just not possible for two really good people to end up with this sort of situation," Ms Riggs said, adding that Mr Burdon was "not a violent person."

The couple's two young sons were home at the time but did not witness their father's death.

"What's the future going to be for them?", Ms Riggs said. "I really don't know."

On Wednesday evening the couple's remote sheep station property was in the hands of officers conducting a commissioner's inquiry into Mr Burdon's suicide.

Detectives are convinced Tanja's body lies somewhere on the couple's remote Oulnina sheep station, about 100km west of the South Australia/New South Wales border.

Finding her may not be easy - the property stretches across 400 square kms of dry, barren land.

"We're committed to finding Tanja and we'll do everything we possibly can and we have a massive task ahead of us," Supt Bray said.

Police are now following up a series of tip-offs from the public, promising to do everything possible to solve a tragic mystery that has torn apart a family and an entire community.

Mr Burdon remains the only person of interest in the presumed murder of Ms Ebert, but Supt Bray said he had made no admissions related to his missing wife.

"Michael was not under arrest at the time and at this point in time there is still no evidence to prove that Michael is responsible for the murder," Supt Bray told reporters on Thursday.

He said Mr Burdon's death had made the investigation more difficult and the couple's children, aged one and three, were too young to provide any information.

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The boys were currently being cared for by another family member.

"The welfare plan that will be considered for the children will obviously address anything they may or may not have been exposed to," Supt Bray said.

Ms Ebert was last seen near Roseworthy, more than 50km north of Adelaide, as she drove home from Adelaide with her husband and children last week.

Mr Burdon told police she became agitated and got out of the car and walked off.

However, he did not report her as a missing person, with another family member contacting authorities two days later.

She was known to be carrying a large amount of cash but left her passport, phone and other belongings behind, along with her two children.

Ms Ebert came to Australia from Germany several years ago and married her husband earlier this year.