IVETA MITCHELL

 

                                     Above - the tattoos on Iveta's back

Missing mother of 3 children IVETA MITCHELL -  Last seen Monday May 3rd 2010 in Mears Ave Parmelia, West Australia. Family are concerned for her welfare. She left her home at 1am after an arguement. She cut across the local park and has not been seen since. Friends and family have door-knocked and passed out posters around the area. IVETA left her home without taking any belongings including her mobile phone and bank cards. Any one who can help please phone Crimestoppers on 1800 333 000 or Kwinana police station on (08) 9411 4311.

Police searching for missing Parmelia woman

 

POLICE are searching for a 37-year-old woman who was last seen in Parmelia on Monday.

Iveta Mitchell was last seen at her Parmelia home on Monday afternoon.

She is described as being 165cm tall, slim build, brown shoulder length hair with light streaks, brown eyes and an olive complexion. Iveta has a tattoo of a tiger on the left hand side of her back.

She was last seen wearing black pants and a black top with writing on the front.

Concerns are held for her safety and welfare as she has not had contact with her family or friends since Monday, which is out of character for her.

Anyone with further information on the whereabouts of Iveta is asked to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or Missing Persons Unit on 9263 2555.

Bush search for missing woman

Updated Sun May 9, 2010 1:03pm AEST - ABC

Police and State Emergency Service volunteers are combing an area of bushland in Perth's southern suburbs for a missing 37-year-old woman.

Iveta Mitchell has not been seen since she argued with a family member on Monday.

Police Sergeant Greg Lambert says police and SES volunteers on horseback and foot are searching bushland in Meares Avenue in Parmelia.

An information booth has been set up at the Kwinana Hub Shopping Centre.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crimestoppers.

Missing mum's rings found on doorstep

LUKE ELIOT, The West Australian May 19, 2010, 5:54 am
 

Wedding and engagement rings belonging to missing Parmelia mother of three Iveta Mitchell have been found on the front doormat of her home.

Mrs Mitchell's husband Chad said last night that he contacted police investigating his wife's disappearance after the discovery, which led forensic experts to search the Meares Avenue home yesterday.

Mr Mitchell said that the discovery both caused him concern and gave him hope that his wife was alive.

He repeated his plea for her or anyone with information to contact police.

Police said their search of the home was a routine part of their inquiries into the 37-year-old's disappearance.

Mrs Mitchell was last seen leaving the family home about 1am on May 3 after an argument with her husband over money.

She was reported missing that day.

The forensic officers and detectives were at the house throughout yesterday afternoon.

Last week, major crime squad detectives said they held concerns for Mrs Mitchell but were not treating the matter as a murder inquiry.

Det-Insp. David Bryson said police were particularly concerned that Mrs Mitchell had not contacted her family on Mother's Day as she was close to her children.

Police also had unconfirmed sightings of Mrs Mitchell, including from a motorist who said he saw her walking on Old Mandurah Road on May 9.

After Mrs Mitchell disappeared, her husband said she went for a walk because she was upset.

"We had a fight and woke our seven-year-old and he was crying so that upset her," he said at the time.

In pleading for help to find his wife, Mr Mitchell said her disappearance was out of character and anyone who might have known where his wife might stay had been contacted.

She did not take her wallet or phone when she left and it was unusual for her to remain out of contact with her family for such a long period.

SES volunteers searched bush near Mrs Mitchell's home while family and friends have put up posters from Perth to Pinjarra seeking the public's help.

Mrs Mitchell is 165cm tall with a slim build, brown shoulder-length hair with light streaks, brown eyes and an olive complexion. She has a tattoo of a tiger on the left-hand side of her back.

Anyone with information regarding Mrs Mitchell is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Missing mum will return: best friend

LUKE ELIOT CHIEF CRIME REPORTER, The West Australian May 27, 2010, 2:25 am
 

A close friend of Iveta Mitchell believes the missing Parmelia mother is still alive and hopes she will make contact soon.

Kristy Marsh describes Mrs Mitchell, to whom she is related through marriage, as a best friend and who she loves like a sister.

She spoke to The West Australian this week as major crime squad detectives finished a search of a Kwinana Beach quarry and tip for the 37-year-old woman's body.

Police have previously said they hold grave concerns for her welfare but are not treating her disappearance as a murder.

They have said it is particularly unusual for her not to make contact with her children on Mother's Day.

"It has just dumbfounded me that she would not be in contact with us and that has thrown a lot of people because it's not like her to do this at all," Mrs Marsh said.

"We were always talking. Our kids go to the same school, she would be straight into the driveway straight after we drop the kids off and we would sit here for hours just chatting away about anything."

Mrs Mitchell left her Meares Avenue home about 1am on May 3 after a fight with her husband Chad over money. She was reported missing later that day.

Police have received a number of unconfirmed sightings of Mrs Mitchell, including from a motorist who claims he saw her walking near Old Mandurah Road about 7pm on May 9.

On May 18, Mr Mitchell found his wife's wedding and engagement rings on their front doormat. This led police to search the home.

Mrs Marsh said the sightings and rings gave her hope.

"It gives us hope that she is still around so she would be looking on and hopefully she will come home sooner, rather than later," she said.

Mrs Marsh said Mrs Mitchell's family and friends were holding up well, given the circumstances.

"I'm actually quite surprised that they have been able to fully hold it together," she said. "It does put a lot of strain on relationships and everyone involved."

Mrs Mitchell is 165cm, with a slim build, brown shoulder-length hair with light streaks, brown eyes and an olive complexion. She has a tattoo of a tiger on the left-hand side of her back.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

No leads for missing woman in quarry search

Updated Sat May 22, 2010 1:03pm AEST  - ABC

Police investigating the disappearance of Parmelia woman Iveta Mitchell have searched a quarry near where she was last seen, but found nothing.

Mrs Mitchell was last seen at her Parmelia home three weeks ago.

Police investigating her disappearance spent yesterday afternoon searching a quarry and rubbish tip at Kwinana.

They say they have ended their search of the area, and did not find anything of interest.

Detectives have grave concerns for Ms Mitchell, who left her home after a fight with her husband earlier this month.

Detective Superintendent Paul Coombes says police are following a number of leads.

"There have been a number of sightings both in the metropolitan area and in regional WA and again I would encourage anybody with any sightings to pass on that information," he said.

Police search bushland in connection with missing woman

Updated Mon Aug 23, 2010 2:36pm AEST

Police are appealing for a person who called Crimestoppers last week with information about a missing Perth woman, to contact them again.

37 year-old Iveta Mitchell has not been seen since she left her Parmelia home on May 3rd.

Forensic officers and SES volunteers are searching a small area of dense bushland near Kwinana Beach today in hope of finding any trace of Mrs Mitchell.

Detective Senior Sergeant Steve Foley says police hope to get more information from the public about her whereabouts.

"This is a missing persons case," he said.

"Obviously, the family of Iveta Mitchell and also police are very concerned for her and where she may be so the investigation is ongoing and Major Crime Squad is putting a lot of resources into this inquiry."

Search continues for clues to disappearance

Posted Wed Sep 8, 2010 1:04pm AEST - ABC

Police investigating the disappearance of a Parmelia woman are continuing to search her family property for clues.

Iveta Mitchell has not been seen since she left the house in May.

Forensic officers have returned to the house today where they are digging up parts of the yard.

Earlier this week, police searched a quarry in Kwinana where her husband Chad Mitchell works.

Officers have searched the house and surrounding areas several times.

Previous searches have failed to find any sign of Iveta Mitchell.

Search resumes for clues to disappearance

Posted Thu Sep 9, 2010 10:02am AEST - ABC

The latest search for the missing Parmelia woman Iveta Mitchell has entered its third day.

Iveta Mitchell hasn't been seen since she left her house in May.

Forensic police officers will return to her family property this morning to search for clues.

Previous searches have failed to find any sign of Ms Mitchell.

 

Search continues at Mitchell house

Posted Fri Sep 10, 2010 8:51am AEST  - ABC

Police will return to the property of the missing Parmelia woman Iveta Mitchell today as they continue to search for clues.

Ms Mitchell has not been seen since she left her house in May.

Forensic police have been searching the family property since Tuesday but expect to let the family back in this weekend.

Iveta Mitchell case upgraded to murder

Katherine Fenech - WA Today
October 7, 2010

Police are treating the disappearance of Parmelia mother Iveta Mitchell as a murder investigation.

Major crime squad Detective Sergeant Paul Robinson said the investigation changed from a missing person case to a murder inquiry earlier this week.

"Due to what we have gleaned during the course of the investigation and the people we've spoken to, and information we have at hand, we believe Iveta has met with foul play," Detective Robinson said.

"The focus of our investigation is to locate Iveta, to bring the person or persons responsible to justice and to hopefully bring some closure to Iveta's family, in particular her three children."

It comes a month after Mrs Mitchell's family were forced from their Parmelia home so police could conduct more forensic tests of the property.

They used the toxic chemical luminol to search for traces of blood and other bodily fluids, and were also looking for clothes belonging to the missing mother.

Detective Robinson said it had taken so long to declare the case a murder investigation because of the number of people police had to speak to.

He would not reveal what made police believe Ms Mitchell had been killed but said detectives had taken items from the home during the latest search.

"I'm not going to go into specifics about what was seized at the search, there were a number of items seized," he said.

When asked about suspects in the murder case, Detective Robinson said police were speaking to a number of people who were assisting with the inquiry.

In August police and SES volunteers combed a section of Kwinana Beach bushland after receiving an anonymous tip-off to Crime Stoppers, but found nothing.

Mrs Mitchell went missing from her Meares Avenue home on May 3. She was last seen by her husband Chad, who said she had gone for a walk at 1am after they argued over finances.

Mr Mitchell has previously said police had accused him of murdering his wife during interviews.

A search of bushland and a quarry, where Mr Mitchell used to work, soon after the disappearance did not turn up any trace of her.

Police raided the family home in June and charged Mr Mitchell with receiving stolen property after they seized a jet ski and trailer worth $8000.

 

Car owner sought in Iveta Mitchell murder probe

Liam Phillips - WA Today
October 13, 2010

 

Police believe a missing car may provide crucial information into the murder of Perth mother Iveta Mitchell.

The car, a white Suzuki hard-top four-wheel-drive, was seen in the Kwinana-Rockingham area around the time of Mrs Mitchell's disappearance in early May, Detective Sergeant Paul Robinson said.

He would not specify the exact time the car was seen, but only that in was sometime on May 2 or the following day.

"At this stage we're treating the (driver of the) vehicle as a potential witness," he said.

The car was described as being in poor condition with visible signs of rust, and at the time it had a small orange light mounted on its roof.

Detective Robinson said police believed the owner of the vehicle may be able to provide vital information to the case.

There had been no reports of a similar vehicle having been stolen at the time.

The tipoff, which came through Crime Stoppers, was one of a number of leads in the case in recent times.

"We've received a steady flow of information throughout the inquiry. It shows the public are still interested in this matter," Detective Robinson said.

The investigation was upgraded from a missing person case to a murder probe last week after inquiries led police to believe the mother had been killed.

 

New search in Iveta Mitchell murder probe

Liam Phillips - WA Today
October 31, 2010

 

Emergency crews are combing bushland in Anketell in a new hunt for clues to the disappearance, and suspected murder, of Perth mother Iveta Mitchell.

Sergeant Gerry Cassidy said State Emergency Service officers were searching an area of land in Spectacles Drive, Anketell, not far from Mrs Mitchell's Parmelia home.

The search was being conducted on behalf of the police major crime squad, which is spearheading the investigation into Mrs Mitchell's murder.

The disappearance of the mother of two was upgraded to a homicide investigation at the beginning of the month after new information gleaned by police led them to conclude it was likely Mrs Mitchell had met with foul play.

She went missing from her Meares Avenue home on May 3. She was last seen by her husband Chad, who said she had gone for a walk at 1am after they argued over finances.

Mr Mitchell has previously said police had accused him of murdering his wife during interviews.

A search of bushland and a quarry, where Mr Mitchell used to work, soon after the disappearance did not turn up any trace of her.

Police raided the family home in June and charged Mr Mitchell with receiving stolen property after they seized a jet ski and trailer worth $8000.

 

One year on, Iveta Mitchell's friends still long for 'the truth'

Aja Styles - WA Today
May 3, 2011

One year after Parmelia mother Iveta Mitchell vanished, her friends still hold out hope that someone can shed light on her mysterious disappearance and suspected murder.

Mrs Mitchell will be remembered at a public event today, but it looked unlikely her husband Chad - who has been a focus of police investigations - would attend the memorial.

Mrs Mitchell went missing in the early hours of May 3 after an argument with Mr Mitchell about him spending money that was meant to pay the mortgage on their Meares Avenue home.

Mr Mitchell told police she went to have a cigarette in the neighbouring parkland and never returned.

Five months into the investigation, police announced they were treating the disappearance as a homicide and Mr Mitchell came under increasing scrutiny, with searches at his home and former workplaces.

Despite numerous police searches of these locations, as well as a Kwinana quarry and rubbish tip and local beach, her body has never been recovered.

Long-time friend Sinki Nikolic said she did not believe Mrs Mitchell would ever leave her children behind or storm off after an argument without her handbag at least.

"Of course it was weird. It can't happen like that. No way would she just have walked away," she said.

"She didn't have anything and you know how it is, a woman has an argument and tells her man to 'piss off', grabs her handbag and gets the hell out of there. You do not leave your handbag behind. Something has happened."

While she continued to hold grave fears for Mrs Mitchell, she said the ceremony was not about saying goodbye but simply to find out "the truth".

"We just want people to realise a person has gone missing and we don't want her to be forgotten like every other missing person," she said.

"Someone has to know something. We just want someone who has seen something or heard something to come out ... to tell major crime and police.

"We want to know the truth."

Ms Nikolic has organised the ceremony, which is being held at 5pm in Barney Park, next door to Mrs Mitchell's home, with the approval of Mrs Mitchell's oldest son, Peter Read.

She hoped he and his sister, Alana Kilsby, would attend, but both have avoided the media spotlight in recent months.

"I could never put myself in their shoes... Devastated, absolutely devastated," Ms Nikolic said.

The pair have remained in close contact despite living in separate homes - Mr Read lives with his grandparents and Ms Kilsby with her father.

She said that Mr Read encouraged her to contact Mr Mitchell about the ceremony but Mr Mitchell did not say much except that "you can, of course you can (hold the memorial)".

Mrs Mitchell's youngest son, Kyle, lives with Mr Mitchell and also was not expected to attend.

Mrs Mitchell's disappearance has pulled the family apart but Mr Read has previously shown support for Mr Mitchell, telling WAtoday.com.au if he had done anything suspicious police would have uncovered it.

Ms Nikolic said today's memorial would be the first of many future anniversary commemorations to be held in Ms Mitchell's name until her disappearance was resolved.

She said there would be 100 battery-operated candles in the park, a banner and a scrap book of Mrs Mitchell's photographs, both of which people could sign to be given to her children.

She said there would also be speeches, music played and poems dedicated to Mrs Mitchell but it was "not a party".

The event was expected to attract more than 100 people, with Ms Nikolic saying that the Kwinana community had really rallied together since her disappearance.

"Iveta was a hard worker. She worked hard all her life. She was outgoing, loved to be with people, loved to laugh," she said.

"Very outgoing but not in the naughty way, she was spontaneous and fun-loving, all with a smile on her face. From the moment you talk to her you'd just click."

 

Missing mum's home on the market

IT was the last place she was seen alive and the centre of a murder investigation.

Now, the family home of missing mother Iveta Mitchell and her husband Chad is going on the market.

The four-bedroom Parmelia house has been listed for $250,000 $30,000 below the median house price for the suburb.

It comes more than a year after the mother of three's mystery disappearance.

In May last year, Mr Mitchell told police his wife left their home and went to a neighbouring park after a late-night argument.

The 37-year-old has not been seen or heard from since and police are now treating the case as a murder investigation.

Mr Mitchell, his eldest stepson, Peter Read, and youngest son, Kyle, no longer live at the home, which has had minor cosmetic work in the past month.

Sources close to the family said the property was put on the market last Thursday after the family fell behind with mortgage repayments.

In the weeks after Mrs Mitchell's disappearance, Mr Mitchell revealed his wife was angry with him before she disappeared because he was blowing their mortgage money on hard drugs.

In an interview with 60 Minutes, Mr Mitchell said he and his wife had argued over finances, revealing he had spent some of his pay on speed.

He also claimed that police viewed him as the "No.1 person" in the investigation, but has consistently denied murdering his wife.

Selling agent Rod Dohnt said he was confident of finding a buyer for the Mitchell home.

Despite it being a bit untidy, he said it offered "extremely good value".

"It's a four-by-two that needs some work, but the price really reflects the market and the condition of the house," he said. "It's not being undersold for any particular reason. It's just another house to me."

The home, on 703sqm, is being marketed with the catch line 'Splish! Splash!' for its pool and outside entertaining area.

Police have repeatedly searched the home and a Kwinana Beach quarry, where Mr Mitchell had previously worked.

In November last year, Mr Mitchell was fined $800 after being found guilty of receiving a stolen jet-ski and trailer worth $8000, uncovered during one of the police searches.

Magistrate Denis Temby accepted that Mr Mitchell did not know the property he had acquired was stolen.

Reward over missing Iveta Mitchell gives family hope

IVETA Mitchell walked out of her Parmelia home on May 3 2010 and never returned but there's new hope in her family's quest for closure.

Those close to her say they pray for answers every day.

"It hurts everyone. It's the not knowing that's the problem," her grandmother Betty Gertau said.

Ms Mitchell was reported missing after a fight with her husband Chad Mitchell, who has always denied any involvement in her disappearance.

Ms Gertau says she's positive Ms Mitchell has been murdered but is adamant Mr Mitchell had nothing to do with it.

"We believe she was picked up that night and taken away - and that's the last we ever saw of her," she said.

The 81-year-old believes the case has stalled and and wants the State Government to set up a reward to to help catch Ms Mitchell's killer.
 

"They've got a damn sight more money than we have and we can't even raise $50,000," she said.
 
Two weeks ago, WA Police announced a $100,000 reward for information in the case of murdered Broome man Josh Warneke.

His mother Ingrid Bishop lobbied the State Government for the money to encourage someone to come forward.

Betty Gertau wants to do the same and the State Government says it will consider it.

Acting Police Minister Christian Porter says he will take the request to the Police Commissoner and they'll assess whether a reward is appropriate

For those who love Ms Mitchell, it could be the breakthrough they've been waiting for.

"Someone out there knows something and we want them to come forward," Ms Gertau said.

"We want to know what happened to poor Iveta."

 

Son’s emotional tribute to Perth mum Iveta Mitchell who disappeared from park in 2010

 
Amber Johnston7NEWS
 

For Kyle Mitchell - Mother's Day is a painful reminder of the hole that's been left in his heart, for ten years.

His mum, Iveta Mitchell, vanished from a park a decade ago when Kyle was just seven-years-old.

Now he has a family of his own.

“I'd rather, not put on a strong face, but get up every morning for her and do the things I do for her, so one day when she does come home, there's something there for her to be proud of,” he said.

After Mrs Mitchell’s mysterious disappearance police searched the family home, a quarry where her husband used to work, and bushland in Kwinana - but nothing was found.

Her husband Chad told police her last known steps were in this park, next door to their Parmelia home.

Her disappearance came after they had an argument. In a bizarre twist, two weeks later, Chad Mitchell says her wedding rings were left on his doorstep.

“I spoke to him about today, and he said as long as I'm OK with doing it, he thinks it could possibly spark something,” Kyle Mitchell said.

Kyle has been asked to supply his DNA in the hopes it would lead to a breakthrough in the case, but it didn’t and Mrs Mitchell’s disappearance is still an open investigation.

“Around this time last year, I called up asking for a bit of information, and they just said they can't release any information,” he said.

“I was a little bit upset, being one of her three children.”

To mark the heartbreaking milestone Kyle made a mural in honour of his mother.

“It's to show the light I suppose at the end of the tunnel I guess in a way.”