Police Classify Disappearance as Suspicious
SA Police have labeled the disappearance of 41-year-old Trisha Graf in Andamooka as "suspicious" and are requesting public assistance. Detective Superintendent Darren Fielke, officer-in-charge of major crimes, stated that police "hold grave concerns for her welfare."
Timeline of Disappearance
Ms. Graf was last observed at approximately 2:00 AM on Friday, December 12. Prior to her disappearance, she had visited the Roxby Downs Hotel and was reported to have driven home around 12:20 AM. Police indicate that Ms. Graf departed a friend's residence in her vehicle around 2:00 AM but did not arrive at her home.
Her partner located her vehicle immobilized on a mound near Blue Dam, approximately four kilometers east of Andamooka, around midday on December 12. The vehicle had sustained damage from a collision with a kangaroo during the drive from Roxby Downs to Andamooka.
Investigation Efforts
Over the subsequent three weeks, SA Police initiated a search operation for Ms. Graf. This included aerial searches utilizing drones and police divers examining Blue Dam. A mine shaft situated approximately 1.5 kilometers from where Ms. Graf's vehicle was found was also searched. No findings were reported from these efforts.
On Tuesday, police declared Ms. Graf's disappearance a major crime after concluding the analysis of drone footage, which yielded no sign of her. SA Police described her disappearance as "highly unusual" and "completely out of character."
Background and Community Impact
Ms. Graf resides in Andamooka, a town approximately 600 kilometers north of Adelaide, with her partner and two children. Superintendent Fielke remarked that Ms. Graf is a "very good mother" to her children, and the home was found in "pristine condition." He noted that her lack of contact with her children and partner, along with undisturbed bank accounts, is atypical behavior. He also stated that Ms. Graf has resided in Andamooka for an extended period and "doesn't disappear."
The location where her car was found near Blue Dam was also identified as unusual, as Ms. Graf was not known to frequent the area.
SA Police acknowledged that the situation has been "a testing time" for the remote community of approximately 260 residents. Superintendent Fielke reported that community members are "shocked" and are cooperating with investigators.
Investigators are scheduled to conduct further enquiries in Andamooka in the coming days and have not excluded the possibility of additional searches in the area.