Search for mum’s body

A GRIM search is under way for the body of South Australian mum Tanja Ebert, with police scouring a sprawling grazing property larger than the entire Gold Coast.

Family and friends of Ms Ebert are all but resigned to the likelihood that she had been murdered by her husband of six months, Michael Burdon.

Police say that there is a stark possibility that the 23year old German-born mother’s body may never be found.

Mr Burdon, 41, who police believe murdered Ms Ebert some time last week, fatally shot himself as police searched their Oulnina Park property in the state’s far-northeast on Wednesday.

He was not under arrest and had not admitted to killing his wife after they returned from a holiday in Adelaide with their infant sons, aged one and three, but police said there were no other suspects in her disappearance.

Mr Burdon’s suicide not only left the couple’s two toddlers as orphans, but provided detectives with a daunting task of finding Ms Ebert’s body on the 410sq km sheep station.

Major Crime Detective Superintendent Des Bray said SES volunteers, STAR Group officers and police horses would be used to negotiate the rugged terrain. Supt Bray said he could make no “guarantees” they would find the body.

“If we put in the effort and we have a bit of luck we’ve got a chance of finding her,” he said.

Mr Burdon showed no obvious signs that he was capable of killing his bubbly wife, according to friends including Melanie Lewis.

“I never had any indication from her or Michael that they were unhappy or under any sort of pressure other than the usual normal frustration that comes with parenthood,” Ms Lewis said.

“It’s just so sad.”

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