Family create website for anonymous tips on missing Marlborough woman

Tuesday, 9 April 2019

Marlborough woman Jessica Boyce has been missing since March 19.

The family of a missing Marlborough woman have set up a website so people can write in anonymously.

Jessica Boyce's cousin opened 'Help Find Jess' on behalf of the family last week, hoping it would encourage people to come forward with information.

Boyce was last seen on March 19. Her red Holden ute was found near Lake Chalice, in Mount Richmond Forest Park, 90 minutes west of Blenheim.

Her cousin Aaron Goodwin, who travelled up from Dunedin to help with the search, said the family was concerned people were withholding information as they were scared to contact the police.

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'It's something I wanted to do on behalf of the family, because some of us aren't even sure she was at Lake Chalice at all,' he said.

'We're unsure if she was involved with people, and if those people are too scared to go to the police.'

Goodwin said people might have also avoided reaching out to the family on social media platforms, such as Facebook, as names were still displayed.

'This [the website] gives complete anonymity,' he said.

The website had a direct link to Crimestoppers to make it easier for the public to submit tips, he said.

It also had a contact form which could be submitted without a name, which went direct to Goodwin.

Information which could prove useful would be forwarded onto police as an anonymous tip, he said.

But Goodwin feared no one would come forward.

Family say the 27-year-old is fond of outdoor areas.

'It probably won't lead to anywhere, but if even one person was holding back, if we can get their attention, that will be worth it,' he said.

'There's a very real chance that maybe no one does know anything about where she is.'

Goodwin said he was 'apprehensive' to return to Dunedin on Monday, almost three weeks after Boyce went missing, as he couldn't contribute as much.

'My sister went down a week and a half ago and she feels terrible, because there's not much she can do to help with the search,' he said.

Land Search and Rescue members search for Boyce in bush around Lake Chalice, west of Blenheim, last month.

'It [the website] is something I thought I could do as I'll have to be helping from a distance now, and it feels like it's the only thing I have the power to do, now.

'I can't help search anymore, and even if I could, it would only be in areas we've already covered before.'

The website was still being debugged on mobile devices, as it looked different on iPhone and Android phones, Goodwin said.

The website said Boyce was last seen leaving Renwick in her mother's red Holden Rodeo ute on March 19.

The ute was found on March 22 unlocked on the track leading up to Lake Chalice, with the keys still in the ignition, the website said.

Her phone, wallet, cash and phone, which was missing a sim card, were found inside the vehicle, it said.

Police and LandSAR suspended their searches for Boyce on March 26 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.