By Mara Pattison-Sowden
Left: Marilyn Reid’s daughter Shirelle Wunhym, husband David Reid, and sister-in-law Merrilyn Ferris. 61968
FAMILY and friends are holding grave fears for the safety of a Warburton woman who has been missing since last Wednesday.
Marilyn Reid, 63, failed to turn up at her mother’s residence in The Basin on Wednesday 16 March, and she hasn’t been seen since.
She left her house in Kent Street at 5am and was supposed to arrive at her mother’s house at 6am to take her to a hospital appointment.
Police have been searching the Yarra Valley and surrounding areas, but her family is convinced that whatever happened occurred in the hour between 5am and 6am.
Lilydale CIU Detective Leading Senior Constable Ian Marr told a media conference yesterday (Monday) that police were looking at the scenario that Marilyn has just gone missing for some unknown reason.
“All our inquiries have not been able to locate Marilyn, her vehicle, or a collision in that area,” he said.
“We don’t believe that she’s been abducted or anything like that but obviously we’re keeping an open mind to every scenario.”
Leading Sen Const Marr said police had checked Mrs Reid’s personal records and have searched the area by air and carwhere they think she went missing .
“It was five o’clock and it was an exposure to night driving that she was not used to so it is a different scenario to what she normally did,” he said.
“A few days prior to her disappearance, Marilyn was a little off.
“She had a fainting spell that she didn’t want her family to know about and she’s also had a few issues with hydration that caused a few minor health issues.
“There’s no indication that we have that there’s a mental health issue.”
Leading Sen Const Marr said it was an out-of-character incident that has caused a significant amount of distress for her family.
Mrs Reid’s daughter Shirelle helped police post fliers around towns on Friday, and said the family is having difficulty understanding what has happened.
“It’s hard not knowing what state of mind she was in, whether it was a medical reason,” she said.
“She’s not a person to just go off and have ‘me time’.”
Shirelle said her mum seemed withdrawn and quiet the week before, but she put it down to being ill.
“Mum does all the appointments so the nursing home knew she was due to show up at six to take her to hospital by seven,” Shirelle said.
“They rang Dad to find out where she was – it was very unusual.”
Marilyn’s husband David said family members were doing everything they could to find her.
“Given she was leaving at 5am and didn’t arrive, I believe whatever has happened has happened within the first hour so the car is the main focus,” he said.
When the Mail first spoke to Mr Reid, he was unsure whether family pressures could have had an effect on his wife, but this week he was leaning towards foul play.
Mr Reid said his wife always took the Warburton Highway through Clegg Road in Mount Evelyn, and down Canterbury Road and then Liverpool Street.
Police have stepped up their search, releasing more information yesterday (Monday 21 March) to media in the hope that someone will remember the car.
When she left her home, Marilyn Reid was driving a 2000 dark red Magna sedan registered QHM-305.
Anyone who has seen her car should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
