The family of a grandmother who appeared to vanish without a trace are now following a series of clues after discovering a chilling handwritten message left on a notepad.
Colleen South, 58, went missing after driving her 2006 Hyundai Getz from the South Australian suburb of Renown Park to Wyncheproof in rural Victoria on July 1.
The car was found abandoned having crashed into a ditch just two days later, but Colleen was nowhere to be seen.
Her personal belongings, however, were discovered just 20 metres away, including her handbag and purse, car and house keys and a journal with a note that read: “Help me please.”
Her daughter, Veronica, believes foul play is at hand but says police are yet to treat the matter as suspicious, news.com.au reports.
It's prompted Veronica to set-up her own desperate search and she has since found her mum's essential medication, a campfire, a pen and downtrodden grass.
“It’s been 2 weeks since you’ve been missing mum,” she wrote in a Facebook appeal on Sunday.
“Although, it feels like a really long time but I’m just getting started with this search.”
“I am praying we find you soon and everyday feels like I’m getting a step closer to finding you. It hasn’t been easy. I am missing you everyday.”
Colleen’s niece, Australian actress Farah Mak, has been speaking out about the case and wants more to be done to track down her auntie.
“Our family have discovered new evidence during their own searches and the police have not taken action from these discoveries,” said the actress who had a role in TV series Neighbours.
“There were tyre tracks in an image from police photos that appear to drive right up to where she had been sitting.
“The police did not dust anything, including her car for prints. Our hope is that we get action and outcome from Victoria Police by treating this as a crime and investigating accordingly to find Colleen ASAP, and to bring her home safely to her daughter who is braving these heartbreaking and frustrating circumstances with the utmost of courage, resilience and integrity.”
Colleen is described as being 154cm tall, of solid build, and has brown hair and green eyes.
She was last seen wearing a black and white striped shirt with blue jeans.
At this stage, Colleen’s disappearance is not being treated as suspicious, police confirmed.
In a statement on Monday, local police added : "Victoria Police is appealing for public assistance to help locate missing South Australian woman Colleen South.
The 58-year-old Renown Park woman was reported missing in South Australia after she was last seen driving a 2006 silver Hyundai Getz sedan at Renown Park on Friday 1 July around 3.30pm.
"The Hyundai was located abandoned in a ditch off Mackies Road, Bunguluke 15kms east of Wycheproof in Victoria, on 3 July.
"Victoria Police commenced a comprehensive search of dense bushland in the surrounding area conducting Air Wing and drone searches along with Mounted Branch, Dog Squad, officers on foot and in vehicles along with SES.
"Local farmers were also asked to check buildings and sheds on their properties.
"Police and family have concerns for Colleen as she has a medical condition and her disappearance is out of character."
