Let us put Carmen to rest, family ask

Carmen Thomas. Photo / Supplied

The family of missing Aucklander Carmen Thomas are begging for anyone with information to come forward so she can be laid to rest.

"For goodness sake, find Carmen and bring her home, let us have closure with some dignity and respect, let us put her to rest with love," her aunt, Carolyn Lavagna, wrote on a Facebook page set up to help find Ms Thomas.

The 32-year-old mother has not been seen since June 27.

Police believe that the presence of blood and other forensic evidence in her abandoned car indicates that she may have been murdered.

The car is believed to have been driven to Hamilton late on July 7 or the early hours of July 8 and left in Dyer St.

Many of Ms Thomas' friends and family live overseas, including her mother, Teresa Scott, who lives in South Africa but travelled to New Zealand late last month to speak with the police.

The distraught family regularly monitor Facebook for updates about the hunt for Ms Thomas and post messages about how they are feeling.

Carolyn Lavagna yesterday used the site to plead for anyone with information to come forward.

Ms Thomas' 5-year-old son is being cared for by his father, Brad Callaghan.

Detective Inspector Mark Benefield said police were in regular contact with Mr Callaghan and the second of two visits last week was to do with providing support to the family as victims of crime.

He said police were not sure what had happened to Ms Thomas or where she was.

He appealed for anyone with information to call police on 0800 KEPPEL (0800-537-735) or email whereiscarmen@police.govt.nz