Police in South Australia have launched a renewed and intensive search for a 41-year-old woman whose disappearance is now being treated as a major crime. Detectives will return to the remote opal-mining town of Andamooka this week to comb for fresh clues in the baffling case of Trisha Graf, who vanished on 12 December.
Timeline of a Disappearance
Trisha Graf was last seen in the early hours of the morning at the Roxby Downs Hotel, leaving just after 12:19am. She departed in a white 2012 Ford Territory, registration S254BCX, accompanied by a friend. The pair drove towards Andamooka, colliding with a kangaroo just outside the township. Despite the damage, they continued into town and visited a house in the north-western area.
Shortly before 2am, Ms Graf left that address to make the short journey home. Her last known sighting was driving along Dunstan Drive in Andamooka. The mystery deepened just after midday on December 12 when her partner and a friend, who were searching for her, discovered her abandoned Ford Territory. It was found perched on a dirt mound near the Blue Dam, east of the town, damaged from the earlier collision and immobile.
An Escalating Investigation
Initial searches involving police, the State Emergency Service (SES), and the community, including aerial sweeps and a dive team checking the Blue Dam, proved fruitless. The case was officially declared a major crime on 6 January, with detectives stating they are treating it as suspicious.
This Tuesday, a coordinated police operation will return to Andamooka to scour multiple areas around the town. On Wednesday, detectives will conduct doorknocks, focusing on several locations where Ms Graf was last seen. Detective Superintendent Darren Fielke emphasised the need for public assistance, stating: ‘We have established Trisha’s movements on the evening and morning she was last seen, but we believe there are people who may have seen her within the town who have not yet contacted police.’
He added: ‘We know there were people who were with Trisha at both the Roxby Downs Hotel and who saw her after she returned to Andamooka and we need to speak with them.’
Appeal for Crucial Information
At the time of her disappearance, Trisha Graf was described as wearing black pants and a black top, with her hair in a plait. She is known to have a nose piercing, lip piercing, and ear piercings. She also has distinctive tattoos: a skull on her upper right arm and a mermaid on her lower forearm.
Police from the Far North, Port Augusta, the Missing Persons Section, and PolAir have all been involved in the extensive ground and aerial searches. Authorities are urging anyone with information about Ms Graf's whereabouts or her movements leading up to her disappearance to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
