Police are re-appealing for public assistance as they continue to investigate the disappearance of a woman from Northern NSW late last year.
Earlier this year, detectives from Tweed/Byron Police District established Strike Force Holby to investigate the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of 42-year-old Thea Liddle.
Thea was last seen in the Mooball area, in Northern NSW, on Thursday 31 October 2019.
She was reported missing to Queensland Police by her family in January 2020, who later contacted NSW Police on Thursday 23 January 2020.
She is known to frequent several Far North Coast locations, including Mooball, Nimbin and Byron Bay.
At the time of her disappearance, Thea was staying at a Mooball property with a then 46-year-old man. Strike force detectives have previously searched the rural property as part of their extensive inquiries.
As the investigation continues, strike force detectives – with the assistance of Northern Region Operational Support Group officers, Public Order and Riot Squad and Police Rescue – will be conducting several searches throughout bushland in and around Byron Bay today and tomorrow (Tuesday 14 and Wednesday 15 July 2020), where Thea was known to have been residing in the months leading up to her disappearance.
Tweed/Byron Police District Commander, Superintendent Dave Roptell, said Thea didn't have a permanent place of residence, so detectives are searching regular locations where many people are known to set up makeshift campsites in the Byron area.
"Thea lived a very transient lifestyle – shifting from place to place, changing campsites often and would opt for places in remote bushland away from the public," Supt Roptell said.
"We are conducting thorough searches throughout these locations for any indication of Thea's presence there.
"It wasn't uncommon for Thea to travel throughout the Far North Coast, however, is it unusual for her to go this length of time without speaking to family members.
"As we have said before, we are extremely keen to speak to anyone who may have seen or spoken to Thea in late October or early November 2019, in and around the Far North Coast of NSW. Any piece of information may assist investigators," Supt Roptell said.
Anyone with information about Thea's disappearance is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence.
