Bush search for woman who vanished after lift from pub
Source: NSW Police
The search for a woman who vanished after being offered a lift by a stranger in a Sydney pub will resume nearly a year and a half after she disappeared.
Homicide detectives hope to unearth information about what happened to Jessica Zrinski during a three-day search of dense bushland in the NSW central tablelands that began on Friday.
Investigators began their search in Jenolan State Forest, about 160km west of Sydney and 13km north of Jenolan Caves.
The search is expected to continue for three days until Sunday, with assistance from the Dog Squad and the Rescue and Bomb Disposal Unit.
The 30-year-old was last seen on November 27, 2022, when CCTV captured her getting into a car about 10pm in a hotel car park at Greenfield Park, in Sydney’s west.
The images show Zrinski being driven away in a blue Holden Commodore station wagon, which was later seen driving on the M4 and Great Western Highway towards the Blue Mountains.
Family members alerted the police on December 3 after failing to hear from her.
On the anniversary of her disappearance, Zrinksi’s family joined police to announce a $500,000 reward for information that helped find her.
Zrinksi’s mum Michelle Barton said she would never stop looking for her daughter.
“Living life without my baby girl Jess has been the most difficult pain I’ve ever had to endure,” she said at the time.
“I’ve loved her for her whole life and I’ll miss her for the rest of mine.
“All I can hope is there is someone out there who can help us find Jess so we – her family and friends – can lay her to rest and say our goodbyes.”
Extra CCTV footage of Zrinksi in the Commodore, which was seen travelling through Horsley Park about 10.15pm on Monday and Mount Victoria on Tuesday, November 29 about 8.50am, was released in late 2023.
Any witnesses who might have seen the blue station wagon in those areas at those times have been urged to contact police.
The search is expected to continue for three days until Sunday, with assistance from the Dog Squad and the Rescue and Bomb Disposal Unit.
– AAP
