POLICE fear the missing Mannum mother-of-one Jody Meyers is dead.
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Police from the Water Operations Section are searching the River Murray between Mannum and Ponde, while Police Mounted Operations and STAR group officers are conducting a ground search between Glenn Burr and Boundary Roads between Ettrick and Burdett.
Detective Inspector Greg Hutchins from the Major Crime Investigation Branch said both police and Ms Meyer's family held very grave and serious concerns for her welfare.
"As it's been declared a major crime, we are believing she is deceased," he said.
"We are right at the early stages of the investigation, we have a lot of work to do, we have grave concerns that she has met with foul play and we need to conduct a thorough investigation."
He said there were a number of reasons why the missing person report had turned into a major crime.
"It's just totally out of character for her to go missing and the family hold grave concerns for her," he said.
"It's obviously a very difficult time for them, they will be very traumatised, just the unknown, the black thoughts.
"I would love for her to come forward now for the sake of the family, you know we all would, and we could all step back and work out what's happened but at this stage we have grave concerns for her, we believe she's probably met foul play."
Ms Meyer's family last saw her at about 7pm on August 26 when she left a family gathering at Ettrick with her partner.
She was wearing faded blue denim jeans, a floral top or dress predominately salmon in colour, beige coloured ugg boots and a hooded jumper of unknown colour. Ms Meyers also wears a hearing aid in her right ear.
Ms Meyer's partner is a person of interest, the only one at this stage in the investigation, but Detective Inspector Hutchins did not go as far as to say he was a suspect.
"We have spoken with her partner on a number of occasions, I can't reveal exactly what he has told us, but some of the areas we are searching are routes he has indicated they have travelled," Detective Inspector Hutchins said.
"We always have to keep an open mind though, we can't rule out other persons of interest but at this point we only have one person of interest."
He said police were looking for two particular items - her white Samsung Galaxy S4 mobile phone and her engagement ring which is flat gold with four diamonds.
There have been some calls to Crime Stoppers but none at this point none of them have been significant.
- Details: Anyone who has seen Ms Meyers or has information on her whereabouts is asked to contact the SAPOL Assistance Line immediately on 131 444. You can remain anonymous.
Police have now declared the disappearance of Mannum mother Jody Meyers as a major crime.
Police hold grave concerns for Ms Meyers' welfare, who has been missing for more than a fortnight.
Police, mounted officers and specialist divers from the SAPOL STAR Group's Water Operations will search key areas in and around Mannum on Friday.
Ms Meyers was last seen about 7pm on Wednesday, August 26 at an Ettrick address by friends and family.
She was wearing faded blue denim jeans, a floral top or dress predominately salmon in colour, beige coloured ugg boots and a hooded jumper of unknown colour. Ms Meyers also wears a hearing aid in her right ear.
Local detectives, along with officers from the Major Crime Investigation Branch, have spoken to Ms Myers' family, including her partner, on a number of occasions.
At this time police do not believe Ms Meyers is in the company of anyone else.
Detective Inspector Greg Hutchins from the Major Crime Investigation Branch said police were distributing flyers to rural properties between Ettrick and Mannum, asking for any information and urging landowners to review any farm gate CCTV they may have.
"We are also asking property owners to try and recollect any suspicious activity on or around the date of Ms Meyers' disappearance and be on the lookout for unrecognised tyre marks, broken fences, unexplained upturned earth, disturbed vegetation or unfamiliar personal property or clothing," he said.
"We are also keen for motorists that may have a dash cam in their vehicles and were in the vicinity of Mannum on the evening of 26 August to contact police.
Police also want to know about a man and woman, both aged between 25-30 years-old, travelling in a red Nissan 2000 X trail on the evening of August 26 in the Murray Park area.
The man is described as of Caucasian appearance wearing a black top with a stocky to medium build, round face with broad shoulders and black hair. The woman was tall, of Caucasian appearance with a thin build and long dark hair.
Police from the Water Operations Section will be searching the Murray River between Mannum and Ponde, while Police Mounted Operations and STAR group officers will be conducting a ground search between Glenn Burr and Boundary Roads between Ettrick and Burdett.
- Details: Anyone who has seen Ms Meyers or has information on her whereabouts is asked to contact the SAPOL Assistance Line immediately on 131 444. You can remain anonymous.