Outlook bleak in hunt for Elisa
THE policeman leading the search for missing mum Elisa Curry believes the best-case scenario is that she is alive and simply doesn’t want to be found.
Inspector Peter Seel made the revelation to the Geelong Advertiser yesterday, but conceded investigators were no longer treating the case as a search and rescue.
“At this point we’re thinking more recovery than anything else,” Insp Seel told the Advertiser.
“(But we’re) always hopeful. The best scenario is that she’s alive somewhere and doesn’t want to be found, that’s an option, but it’s more probable that if she’s out in the bush she won’t be alive.”
Insp Seel — who has led the hunt for the 43-year-old since she mysteriously disappeared from the family’s Aireys Inlet holiday house last weekend — said police had so far only discovered small clues.
“We’ve had items located, but they haven’t been able to be linked back to her,” he said.
“Things like (a drink bottle and jumper found on running path), and things that are found on the beach that people think might be helpful.”
Police wrapped up their ground search efforts today, after six days of scouring Aireys Inlet failed to produce any evidence of what had happened to Ms Curry since she was last seen in her home about 10pm on AFL Grand Final day.
Insp Seel said one of the few clues for investigators was that Ms Curry, a keen runner, may have left the house for a run on Sunday morning.
“Other than that, there are just no leads that we can look at to say ‘perhaps she went this way’, ‘ perhaps she went that way’,” he said.
Insp Seel said the lack of evidence and clues as to Ms Curry’s whereabouts had been a bitter pill to swallow.
“It’s disappointing that we haven’t been able to locate her,” he said.
“It’s difficult to accept that we can’t find her, and it’s difficult because we can’t give the answers to the family. That’s the biggest issue.”
Some search efforts will continue in coming weeks, including possible police divers and rope crews checking the ocean and cliffs in the area.
Police will this weekend set up an information caravan at the Aireys Inlet General Store, seeking information that may help them in the search.