Motueka 'sighting' of missing Marlborough woman ruled out by CCTV check
Tuesday, 2 April 2019
A review of CCTV footage has ruled out a reported sighting of missing Marlborough woman Jessica Boyce in Motueka, after a tip-off to police on Monday.
Police have also ruled out potential sightings of Boyce at Blenheim's Coupland Bakeries, Spring Creek, north of Blenheim, and 'the raft of other sightings' that had been reported to them.
Boyce's cousin Aaron Goodwin, who travelled up from Dunedin to help with the search, said he was disappointed by the Motueka news.
'We knew there was a poor chance of it being Jess, but we can't afford not to follow such leads. We appreciate being sent the tip,' he said.
**READ MORE:
* 'Waste of time': Psychic tip-offs sent to missing woman Jessica Boyce's family
* Missing Marlborough woman Jessica Boyce's family take search to Nelson region
* Family disappointed 'not to bring Jess home' after forest park flyover**
Boyce was last seen on March 19. Her red Holden ute was found near Lake Chalice, in Mount Richmond Forest Park, west of Blenheim.
Goodwin said a person told the family on Monday they recalled seeing someone who looked like Boyce on Motueka's Hight St on March 27, eight days after her disappearance.
The family immediately passed the potential sighting, at the Whitwells Menswear store, on to police, he said.
'The person [who came forward] seems adamant the person they saw had the same facial scarring as Jess, and that she matched her description, as they'd seen a photo of her beforehand.'
Goodwin said the family had scouted the area and noted there was a 'hippie fashion store' two doors down from Whitwells Menswear, which matched the clothing style Boyce liked to wear.
Whitwells Menswear employee Danny Daniels said Boyce's family approached staff on Monday about the potential sighting, and the store offered to check their footage.
'But we don't have a camera that faces the street. I told them to check in with next door, as they do have a street-facing camera.'
Staff started asking customers if they recognised Boyce, but Daniels said as of Tuesday morning, no-one seemed to know who she was.
'We don't remember seeing her, but we are on the look out. We've placed a poster up in the window now,' he said.
Police said on Tuesday there had been a number of reported sightings of Boyce since her disappearance.
'All have proved negative once we drilled down on what the individual actually witnessed [versus] what Jess looked like with tattoos, etc,' they said.
'Most of this is covered with viewing CCTV [footage] which, once seen, can be easily negated.'
Police said while the search for Boyce had been suspended, police were still receiving information about her and her whereabouts from the public, and these were being followed up as and where necessary.
Friends and family had been in the Nelson region since Saturday afternoon, putting up flyers and exploring locations where Boyce had frequented or had friends and acquaintances.
Long-time friend Sharmaine Aberhart-Thompson had helped the family find and search Boyce's favourite hangouts, such as Motueka, Richmond and Takaka, Goodwin said.
'A lot of people along the main road of Takaka got emotional when we showed them a poster of Jess, as they recognised her from past visits,' Goodwin said.
Family spent Friday putting 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.
Family and friends decided to shift their search efforts to Nelson after a flyover of Mount Richmond Forest Park last Thursday, Goodwin said.
Police and LandSAR suspended their searches for Boyce early last week until they had more information.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Blenheim police on 03 578 5279. Alternatively, anonymous tips can be passed on to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.