Police turn to technology in search for missing women

Marice McGregor. Photo / Supplied

Detectives investigating the disappearances of two women in "almost identical" circumstances are using sophisticated mapping software to trace their whereabouts.

Marice McGregor, 45, hasn't been seen since April 19 when her car was found in Lismore Forest, 20km north of Wanganui. Police said yesterday they were "90 per cent" certain foul play was involved.

The family of Emma Campbell, 29, are still clinging to hope they could find her alive, despite her vanishing without trace from the Port Hills outside Christchurch eight days ago.

Search and rescue teams are using the latest geographic profiling techniques in both hunts. Details such as last-known sightings of the women, homes, places they are familiar with and possible modes of transport have been fed into software to pinpoint possible locations.

"It gives us an idea of what areas we have to search as a priority, and is crucial in terms of keeping the search focused on the areas where she is most likely to be," says Kim Perks, spokeswoman for the McGregor investigation.

The focus of the hunt switched to Feilding after it emerged McGregor's cellphone had been turned on there the morning after she was last seen.

Police confiscated a green 4WD and searched the home of a wheelchair-bound man on Wednesday but no arrest has been made and police have been back combing rugged terrain around the Parapara Hills near Wanganui.

"We are 90 per cent certain that this was a suspicious disappearance," says Perks.

"We started off with a very open mind but we are at the point where we consider foul play is a real possibility."

Canterbury University spatial crime expert Gregory Breetzke says geographic profiling is "booming" in the United States and the UK.

"It's quite innovative that this is being used, and I think the police should be applauded. It's another weapon in their arsenal."

Criminologist Greg Newbold says that having two active missing persons cases that mirrored each other so closely is highly unusual.

"The circumstances are almost identical. Both involve vehicles that have been found abandoned in rural areas, deserted without a trace.

"It's a real whodunit for the police."