'We remain strong' say family of missing Marlborough woman Jess Boyce

Thursday, 10 October 2019

Jessica Boyce was last seen in Renwick, but her ute was found 43kms away in the Mt Richmond Forest Park.

Jessica Boyce's family say they will remain strong despite the 'enduring burden' of not knowing the fate of the missing Marlborough woman almost seven months on.

The 27-year-old's uncle Brent Boyce said in a family statement to the Marlborough Express that her loved ones would never give up looking or their hope that she might return.

Boyce was last seen on March 19, driving her mother's ute. Two hikers found the ute near Lake Chalice, in the Mount Richmond Forest Park, 90 minutes west of Blenheim, on March 22.

'Those who know her well will understand that Jess has always been a free spirit, never meaning anyone any harm,' the family statement said.

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'Her whimsical nature has blown her somewhere - out onto the winds to elsewhere. As can be expected, this forever waiting and not knowing is an enduring burden on all of us.'

Police and LandSAR searched the forest park and its huts when Boyce's vehicle was found in March, but suspended efforts four days later.

Kay Johnstone, mother of missing Marlborough woman Jessica Boyce, stands in front of the red ute Boyce took to Lake Chalice. A missing person's poster sits in the ute's window.

Family members searched the area on foot, joined in on a flyover, put up missing person posters, chased leads, established the 'Help Find Jess' Facebook page and created a website for anonymous tips.

Boyce's mother Kay Johnstone later said that family and friends began to suspect she had been kidnapped within days of her disappearance.

'We know not what has become of her, or where she is,' the family said in the statement.

'We are united as a family and community in our determination to bring Jess home. We remain strong as we continue to search for Jess.

'We will never give up looking, nor will we give up hope. We can only wait for Jess to return.'

Boyce's family thanked the public for their help, prayers and kindness.

'We have been working closely with the police over this time, and have valued their ongoing support and untiring efforts,' they said.

Two hikers found the red ute Boyce took to Lake Chalice on March 22.

The statement said both friends and family had been told 'many possible rumours and stories' about what had happened to Boyce, and these were 'always' passed onto police.

Detective Senior Sergeant Ciaran Sloan said on Tuesday that police were continuing to investigate Boyce's disappearance.

'We know the past months have been a distressing time for Jessica's family, who are desperate to find her,' he said.

'We are committed to supporting them throughout this investigation and will continue to act on all positive lines of enquiry.'

Sloan said police were keen to speak with anyone who might have information that could assist the investigation, 'no matter how insignificant' people think that information might be.

The family urged those with information on Boyce's disappearance to 'bypass' them and social media, and contact police on the toll-free line 105.

Anonymous tips could also be made to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

TIMELINE

March 19 - Boyce's mother Kay Johnstone arrives at her home in Renwick after going to a hospital appointment. She notices Boyce is missing, which had happened several times before. She also notices her red Holden ute is missing. Johnstone reports the ute as stolen to police. She hopes if Boyce was found with the ute that her daughter would be given the mental health treatment she'd twice been denied.

March 22 - Two hikers find the ute near Lake Chalice, in the Mount Richmond Forest Park. They call Johnstone, who calls police. The hikers later tell police to bring dogs. Boyce is officially reported missing.

March 23 to 25 - Search and rescue teams scour the area near where Boyce's car was found. They find little in the way of clues.

March 26 - Search teams are put on hold until police have more information. Boyce's family conduct private searches in other areas of the forest park.

March 27 - The family ask the public through Facebook to keep an eye out for Boyce and published a list of her favourite spots.

March 28 - Precision Helicopters gives Boyce's mother, Kay Johnstone, and cousin, Aaron Goodwin, a free flight over where the ute was found. Boyce was not spotted. Friends and family continue to search on foot.

March 29 - Family members put up 'missing person' posters around Rai Valley, Havelock, the Wakamarina and the Queen Charlotte Track, encouraging the public to keep an eye out for Boyce.

March 30 - Family members go to Nelson to put up 'missing person' flyers and check out locations Boyce often frequented.

April 2 - Police rule out a reported sightings of Boyce in Motueka, Coupland Bakeries, Spring Creek, and north of Blenheim.

April 4 - Cadaver dogs are bought in to search the area where Boyce went missing.

April 9 - Goodwin sets up the website 'Help Find Jess' to encourage people to come forward with information anonymously.

April 12 - Johnstone reveals Boyce had twice tried to get mental health treatment in the weeks before she disappeared, but was turned away.

April 24 - The family seek counselling to cope with Boyce's disappearance.

May 10 - Boyce's family reveal fears that the 27-year-old may have been kidnapped from the forest park by people who were 'not her friends'.

May 23 - Search and rescue teams keep an eye out for clues on Boyce while looking for Nelson man Philip Young in the forest park.

May 28 - An admin error causes Boyce's Facebook account to publish a vehicle advertisement to a Nelson buy, sell and trade page. Police state they are 'confident' it was not posted by Boyce after her disappearance.

June 2 - The family reach out to author Ian Wishart for advice on searching for the missing Marlborough woman. He teaches family members how to retrace someone's electronic footprint.

June 7 - The family begin fundraising for a $50,000 reward.

June 20 - Goodwin steps back from the search after struggling to cope with the aftermath of his cousin's disappearance.

June 31 - The fundraiser closes with $1290 donated.