Missing Woman Identified in NSW Rural Property Discovery

The body of Yvonne Whear, a 73-year-old Northern Rivers woman, has been identified nearly eight months after she was last seen. Her remains were discovered by trail bike riders in an advanced state of decomposition, partially submerged in a stock dip on a Terragon property, south of Murwillumbah. Whear was last captured on security cameras on February 19, driving towards her hobby farm. Mobile phone data indicates she was active that afternoon, with her phone last detected near Dungay the following morning. Police searches, including aerial surveillance and river diversions, were initiated after her daughter raised concerns about her welfare. A significant breakthrough occurred last month when Whear's gold Ford Escape SUV was recovered from the Rous River, approximately 10 kilometres from her rural residence. Personal effects believed to be hers were also found with the vehicle. At the time of her disappearance, Whear was engaged in a legal dispute over her farm's lease agreement, with a tribunal hearing scheduled for the week she vanished. Despite these proceedings, her daughter affirmed Whear had no reason to leave her life behind. Investigations are ongoing.