Six months after she disappeared, the whereabouts of 73-year-old Yvonne Whear remain unknown, fueling fears among her family that she may have been abducted. Whear was last seen on February 19, 2026, driving along Queensland Road in Murwillumbah, in northern New South Wales, Australia. She was en route to her hobby farm in nearby Dungay after attending a TAFE course.
Whear's boots, shirt, and hat were found at her property, but there has been no sign of her since. Her gold-coloured Ford Escape wagon, bearing NSW registration EWS28P, is also missing. Phone records indicate her device was active until approximately 4:45 p.m. on February 19, with a subsequent ping east of Dungay at 10:10 a.m. the following day. NSW Police have not ruled out foul play.
Her daughter, Gillian Hallac, expressed deep concern, stating her belief that her mother was taken and her vehicle deliberately concealed. "That is my belief, as her daughter, based on what I know about the circumstances in which she disappeared," Hallac told reporters. The family insists Whear showed no signs of depression, mental illness, or dementia prior to her disappearance, and had no ordinary reason to leave her property that evening. She has missed the birth of her first great-grandchild during the six months of her absence.
Extensive search efforts involving drones, boats, helicopters, and sonar equipment have been conducted in the region, including checks of nearby rivers, but have yielded no trace of Whear or her vehicle. Police noted that Whear had no history of substance abuse, rarely drank alcohol, and disliked driving at night, making a voluntary disappearance or an accident on the notoriously dangerous local cliff roads less likely.
Detective Acting Inspector Chris Elliott confirmed that investigators have found no evidence to suggest Whear intended to disappear voluntarily. "The investigation remains open. Detectives continue to examine all available information, and at this stage we are keeping an open mind as to what may have happened," Elliott stated. He urged anyone who saw Whear or her vehicle around the time of her disappearance to come forward.
Detective Inspector Paul Fenwick of the Missing Persons Registry emphasized that finding answers for Whear's family and the community is a priority. "Someone in the community knows something that could help us. Even the smallest detail - something you may not think is important - could be the key to locating Yvonne. Now is the time to come forward," he said.
Yvonne Whear is described as being of Mediterranean/Middle Eastern appearance, approximately 154cm tall, with a medium to solid build and long grey/brown hair. She is known to frequent the Murwillumbah and Dungay areas. Police are appealing for public assistance and urge anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers.