UPSET:
Missing Burnie woman Helen Munnings' grandmother Julie Payne. She is upset about
rumours.
Munnings witnesses to be re-interviewed
Posted - ABC
Police searching for a missing north-west Tasmanian woman will re-interview witnesses in the case.
20 year old Helen Munnings was last seen on the Bass Highway at South Burnie 15 days ago.
An air, land and sea sea search yesterday failed to find any trace of Ms Munnings, and her family believes the missing mother has been murdered.
Detective Inspector Adrian Shadbolt says foul play is possible, but other possibilities are still being considered:
"We're reviewing the case, we're reviewing and going to be re-interviewing witnesses, to make sure that no stone has been left unturned insofar as a thorough investigation being conducted," he said.
`She'd never take own life'
Pregnant with her second child, her brother and grandmother believe the 20-year-old had everything to live for and would never have taken her own life.
It is nearly three weeks since the Burnie woman was last seen by her family and Mark Black and Julie Payne don't expect to see her again.
"We're sticking together as a family," Mr Black said.
"It's been so long now.
"We're coming to terms with the fact that she might be gone."
Asked to describe her grand- daughter, Ms Payne speaks of her in past tense.
"She was very naive ... but she was a nice, very generous girl," she said.
"She loved clothes, and jewellery.
"She used to love going through my jewellery box."
Mr Black, a protective older brother and even more protective uncle, is convinced his sister would never choose to leave her two-year- old son Donovan.
"She's a beautiful, loving girl.
"She wouldn't hurt anyone and would help anyone given half the chance," he said.
"There is no question. She wouldn't have hurt herself."
Ms Munnings, who was about three months pregnant when she disappeared, had only told her sister she was expecting.
But Mr Black said their mother had already noticed something was different.
"She was watching what she was eating, just the way she did when she was pregnant with Donovan.
"She wouldn't go near anyone who was smoking, she wouldn't drink.
"She was being very careful with the way she lived her life."
Mr Black said Ms Munnings was also studying hospitality at TAFE, had a flat and recently bought a new car.
Ms Munnings' family and friends are devastated at her disappearance, which they say is completely out of character.
Ms Payne is particularly upset by reports last week that her grand- daughter had gone missing before.
"She hasn't gone missing at all," she said. "We've always known where she was.
"All the rumours that go around - it's upsetting."
Det-Insp Adrian Shadbolt yesterday said there was nothing new to report in the investigation.
Utility main link to missing mum
August 06, 2008 12:00am
THIS is the ute at the centre of the investigation into the disappearance of Burnie mother Helen Munnings (see photo, top of page)
Police yesterday released a photograph of the white Holden Rodeo -- taken in the police compound at Wivenhoe.Burnie CIB Detective Inspector Adrian Shadbolt said the owner, who was driving the utility in which Helen Munnings was travelling when last seen on July 23, was being treated as a witness.
"This still remains a possible murder investigation," Det Insp Shadbolt said.
"The owner and location of the ute are known to police. But we want to hear from anyone else who saw this vehicle in South Burnie at about 5.30pm on July 23 or anywhere else that afternoon."
Ms Munnings' handbag was left in her flat on the day she disappeared after telling her mother she was walking down to the doctor's surgery. Her mobile phone is being held by police.
It is 12 days since the 20-year-old pregnant woman was seen outside the Australian Paper mill at South Burnie.
Police believe Ms Munnings may have crossed the Bass Highway and walked on to the beach after she got out of the ute.
Reports of a body are incorrect MISSING MUM SEARCH
Det-Insp Kim Steven, of Burnie CIB, said he too had heard the scuttlebutt saying Ms Munnings' body had been discovered in any number of places, including at the Blinking Billy lighthouse near Round Hill.
"We've been hearing all of the same rumours as everyone else. You name it, we've heard it," Det-Insp Steven said.
"However, I can categorically state at this point they are all false and investigations into Ms Munnings' disappearance are continuing."
Det-Insp Steven said such a high level of speculation among the public "went with the territory" in a high-profile case like Ms Munnings' disappearance, leading to all kinds of misinformation.
"People hear things and it grows legs of its own from there," he said.
While appreciative of the assistance that the public can offer in missing persons cases, he urged people to only pass on serious information to police.
"We do need to investigate all information that comes our way, so (these rumours) do take time out of an inquiry and slow us down," he said.
Police are still devoting significant resources to the search for Ms Munnings, who was last seen on July 23.
Det-Insp Steven said Burnie CIB was in the process of re-interviewing witnesses.
People with information are asked to contact Burnie Police on 64345211 or CrimeStoppers on 1800333000
Police optimistic about new leads on mother
They were still getting new information - nearly three weeks after her disappearance - from people who had just remembered things or realised they may be relevant, Detective- Inspector Adrian Shadbolt said yesterday.
"We're very pleased with the response we've received to date and we're looking forward to more people coming forward.
"I'm still confident someone in the community may have seen the utility (a Holden Rodeo flat tray) or Helen Munnings walking in South Burnie or on the beach."
The last report of Ms Munnings' whereabouts was being dropped off from the flat tray on the Bass Hwy outside Australian Paper at 5.30pm on July 23.
Inspector Shadbolt would not say how much verification of that report police had.
He would also not discuss what police knew of her whereabouts between the time she was reportedly seen leaving home about 4pm that day and the last reported sighting about 90 minutes later.
He said there was "still a lot of work to undertake" with the investigation.
He said police would re- visit some witnesses to check on any "loose ends" a review of their investigation uncovered and said there may be further searching.
People with information are asked to contact Burnie Police on 6434 5211 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
No new leads in woman's disappearance
Posted - ABC
Tasmania Police believe there are still people with information about a missing Burnie mother who have not come forward.
20 year old Helen Munnings was last seen on the Bass Highway at South Burnie on July 23.
The Burnie CIB has been re-interviewing witnesses and reviewing the evidence, but have come up with nothing fresh.
Detective Inspector Adrian Shadbolt says another officer is conducting an independent review, but it will take some time.
"As time progresses, people have assessed their knowledge of certain events and observations on that day and have contacted us," he said.
"I'm sure that there are people out there in possession of information, relevant information, and we're still encouraging them to come forward and make contact with us.
"The case will always remain ongoing and open until we come to some resolution, so to speak."
Ms Munnings' family believe she has been murdered.
Police divers search for missing mother
Posted - August 14th 2008 - ABC
Investigations into the disappearance of a northern Tasmanian woman are being stepped up today, with police divers searching the waters of Emu Bay, at Burnie.
20 year old Helen Karel Munnings has been missing since July 23.
Divers will search waters opposite the Australian Paper Mill where Ms Munnings was last seen when she was dropped off from a white Holden flat tray ute.
Police now have new evidence that Ms Munnings said she wanted to walk along the beach next to the Bass Highway on the day she disappeared.
Detective Senior Sergeant Kim Steven says the dive team will be looking for Ms Munnings' clothing or her body.
"We've been getting some specialist advice from a number of scientific areas including the CSIRO and AUSAR, the Australian Search and Rescue personnel," he said.
"If a body did go in at the South Burnie beach on the afternoon that Helen went missing, the possibility that if a person has drowned in that area, the body still could be in that area this far down, three weeks down."
Police have not ruled out that Ms Munnings disappeared of her own accord, but she did not have her mobile phone or identification with her.
Ms Munnings' family say she was pregnant and believe she has been murdered.
Missing mum: Police divers search bay
The five-strong, Hobart-based dive squad, including one local officer, closely searched around the pier opposite Australian Paper and then turned its attention to sweeping Emu Bay, which took most of the day.
The divers found no clues to the 20-year-old Burnie woman's disappearance in good underwater viewing conditions, but will continue the sea search today.
"We are undertaking this action following specialist scientific advice and are looking for anything that may assist further with this investigation, including a body or clothing as worn by Helen when she disappeared," Det-Insp Adrian Shadbolt said.
It is still not clear if she was murdered, committed suicide or if something else happened to her.
Sgt Iain Shepherd, of the dive squad, was hoping for tips on sea areas to search from local fishers and others who knew the shoreline well.
"If someone has local knowledge or thoughts on where anyone could go into the water, we'd like to hear.
"Fishermen or others may know of people being swept off from a particular spot in the past, or have information about tidal areas.
"If it was brought to our attention we'd look at it."
Sgt Shepherd acknowledged it was possible they would find nothing.
"When you take tide, wind and weather patterns into account, we're talking about significant areas (of sea)."
Ms Munnings has been missing since July 23.
The last report of her whereabouts concerned her being dropped off from a Holden Rodeo flat tray on the Bass Hwy, outside Australian Paper, about 5.30pm that day.
Det-Sgt Kim Steven said Australian Paper's security staff had helped police with an extensive search of the company's site.
He said it did not turn up evidence of Ms Munnings.
Anyone with information, including sea search tips, is asked to contact Burnie Police on 64345211 or CrimeStoppers on 1800333000.
Munnings search wound down
Posted - ABC
Tasmania Police have halved the number of officers working on the case of a Burnie woman who has been missing for nearly five weeks.
20 year old Helen Munnings was last seen on the Bass Highway at South Burnie on July the 23rd.
Ms Munnings' family believes she has been murdered.
Website bid to find missing woman
Posted - ABC
The family of a Burnie woman who disappeared six months ago has launched a website to try to obtain new information about the case.
Twenty-year-old Helen Munnings was last seen in Burnie on July the 23rd.
She has a two-year-old son, Donovan.
A family member, Gail Burnett says police regard the case as 'still open', even though there has been no fresh information about Ms Munnings' whereabouts.
Burnie police say there is a strong likelihood she is dead.
Ms Burnett says people can reply on the website anonymously.
"It's been coming up to nearly six months since Helen's been missing, she would have been having her second child in the first week of February and the family are just distraught," she said.
"They've lost Helen."
"They've lost another family member and the unborn child and we see very little of Donovan."
Police post reward in missing woman case
Posted - ABC
Tasmanian police hope a $50,000 reward will help them solve the case of a Burnie woman who is missing, presumed dead.
Twenty-year-old Helen Munnings was last seen in Burnie about 10 months ago.
Police have not ruled out murder as a factor in her disappearance.
Burnie police inspector Adrian Shadbolt says the case is still a high-priority investigation, and anyone with information should call Crimestoppers.
"Forthcoming information has all but ceased in this matter, and we're hoping that the provision of this reward will prompt anybody to come forward and discuss the reward," he said.
"Payment of such a reward or any portion thereof shall be at the sole discretion of the Commissioner of Police."
Police divers search for missing Burnie woman
Posted - ABC
A major land and water search will be carried out over the next two days in Tasmania's north-west for a missing Burnie woman.
It has been 10 months since 20-year-old Helen Munnings was last seen on the Bass Highway in Burnie.
She told a friend she was going for a walk on the beach, but extensive searches of the foreshore failed to find any trace of her.
Last week a $50,000 reward was offered for information about her disappearance and police were inundated with calls.
Lake Kara near Hampshire is the focus of investigations today, while police and State Emergency Service teams will also search Burnie beach, the Heybridge shoreline and other undisclosed locations.
After a check of Lake Kara shallow water earlier this morning, the divers are now searching deeper areas.
The Burnie beach and Heybridge shoreline will also be searched over the next two days.
Police say there are persons of interest to them in the case.
Ms Munnings' family maintains the young mother was murdered.
Search crews fail to find missing woman
Posted - ABC
A day of land and water searches at a north-western Tasmanian lake has failed to find any trace of a missing Burnie woman.
Tasmanian police will continue their search for a missing Burnie woman tomorrow.
Almost 20 police divers, search and rescue officers and the state emergency service spent the day scouring Lake Kara near Hampshire.
Helen Munnings, 20, was last seen getting out of car in south Burnie almost a year ago.
A $50,000 reward was offered for information about her disappearance last week and police are now following several new leads.
Divers will move onto Burnie beach and Heybridge foreshore tomorrow.
Detective Sergeant Richard Chugg says there are suspects in this case.
"It's a multi-faceted investigation that's involved lines of inquiry in terms of her perhaps suiciding," he said.
"But certainly we are of the belief that she may have died at the hands of another person."
Sergeant Chugg says search will continue tomorrow.
"We'll be searching areas in the Burnie area being Burnie beach, Heybridge foreshore and also the divers in the sea front at Burnie and some other areas that I can't disclose at this time."
Ms Munnings grandmother Julie Payne says they are hopeful.
"I just hope they find something because without evidence, it's very hard to convict someone," she said.
Police resume search for Burnie mother
Posted - ABC
Tasmanian Police are scouring the seafront at Blythe Heads east of Burnie in a fresh effort to find the body of a missing woman.
A search of Lake Kara at Hampshire yesterday failed to find any trace of Helen Munnings.
The 20 year old mother was last seen nearly a year ago walking next to the Bass Highway, outside Australian Paper.
Inspector Richard Chugg says rough weather is making today's underwater search difficult and about a dozen volunteers are combing the beach and nearby scrub.
Police have offered a $50,000 reward for information about her disappearance.
Anyone with information should contact Crimestoppers on 1800 333 000.
No new clues to north-west disappearance
Posted - ABC
A two day water and land search has failed to find any trace of a Burnie woman who has been missing for nearly a year.
Helen Munnings, 20, was last seen walking next to the Bass Highway outside Australian Paper.
Police divers and volunteer search crews spent today scouring the seafront and scrub at Blythe Heads, east of Burnie, but say nothing new has turned up.
Police say it is most likely Ms Munnings is dead and they are hoping a $50,000 reward will bring a breakthrough.
Anyone with information should contact Crimestoppers on 1800 333 000.
Police divers resume Munnings search
Posted
Tasmanian police are resuming the search for the body of missing north-west woman, Helen Munnings.
Divers will search the area of Blythe Heads and the Blythe River mouth, east of Burnie.
The search began on June the 3rd after a fresh tip-off but it was suspended because of deteriorating weather conditions.
The 20-year-old mother was last seen not far from the area nearly a year ago.
Police believe it is unlikely she is still alive.
Police drain reserve in search for body
Posted
Updated - ABC
Police in Tasmania's north-west believe a small group of people know what happened to missing 20-year old Helen Munnings and are urging them to come forward.
Police are draining of a reserve at Fern Glade behind Burnie as they search for her body.
The area near Fern Glade was one of Ms Munning's favourite spots to meet friends.
Police divers started searching the Emu River near Burnie this morning for clues to her disappearance.
Ms Munnings was last seen on the Bass Highway outside Australian Paper about a year ago.
Detective Sergeant Richard Chugg says she may have been murdered.
"This was one of Helen's favourite locations in Burnie, as such we believe it may have been a meeting place that she used with persons of interest from time to time," he said.
"We've also conducted this search at the request of the family on that basis."
A reward of $50,000 is being offered for information on her whereabouts.
Investigation into missing Burnie woman continues
Posted
Police in northern Tasmania will continue to investigate the disappearance of a north west woman, despite the fact they are preparing a file for the coroner.
Helen Munnings, 20, was last seen in July last year on the Bass Highway east of Burnie.
Burnie Police Detective Sergeant Richard Chugg says they are hoping to give the file to the coroner by March, but Ms Munnings disappearance will remain an open investigation.
"It's an ongoing investigation with Burnie CIB, generally there'll be two officers working on it almost full time and the resources of the department and the rest of the office are available when required," he said.
Police extend search for Burnie woman
Posted - ABC
Police investigating the disappearance of a Burnie woman 18 months ago are reviewing the file before handing it onto the coroner later this year.
Twenty-year-old mother Helen Munnings was last seen on the Bass Highway outside of Burnie in July 2008.
Detective Acting Inspector Richard Chugg says they originally planned to hand the file to the coroner by March but that date has been pushed back.
"It's an ongoing case into the circumstances surrounding Helen's disappearance and that investigation will continue even after the matter is before the coroner, on the basis of new information received," he said.
Mr Chugg says they are going to wait for the second anniversary of Ms Munnings' disappearance.
"It's our intention now to wait for the current reward that's in place to come up for review," he said.
"At that time we would expect to be prepared for the coroner and submitted at that time."
