An urgent search for a ‘vulnerable’ 78-year-old woman who has been missing for 10 days has been expanded to include remote woods and marshland, following the discovery of her abandoned car in a retail park.
Christine Murton was reported missing after she left her home in Rushmere St Andrew, near Ipswich, on Wednesday, 12 November – and has not been heard from since.
Footage from a house a few streets away captured Christine walking along the road at around 10.40am. At 2.45pm that day, CCTV filmed her walking along a footpath on the edge of the nearby village of Nacton in the direction of Decoy Wood, four miles away from her home.
Officers have conducted multiple enquiries since Christine was reported missing, including reviewing CCTV and doorbell footage, as well as ground searches assisted by the Suffolk Lowland Search and Rescue (SulSAR) team with drones, the police helicopter, specialist trained dogs and the Coastguard.
Yesterday Suffolk Police announced a breakthrough – Christine’s car, a blue Toyota Yaris, was located at a retail park in the Pinewood area, five miles west from her home.
Police believe the vehicle had been in the car park ‘for a number of weeks’.
Christine is described as white, of slim build, around 5ft 7ins tall with short, dark hair and wore glasses.
On the day she went missing, she was wearing a purple jacket, blue trousers and carrying a large shoulder bag.
Christine Murton has not been heard from since she went missing from her home 10 days ago
Police are becoming increasingly concerned for ‘vulnerable’ Christine who ‘could be confused’
CCTV captured Christine walking along a footpath on the edge of Nacton village on the afternoon she went missing
Those close to her say the former library worker enjoys long walks and may have travelled some distance on foot.
Detective Superintendent Tom Pearse of Suffolk Police said of the car’s discovery yesterday: ‘We understand that Christine had been unsure where it had been left and one line of enquiry was that she may have been retracing her steps to locate the vehicle.’
On Saturday, police issued a fresh appeal for Christine’s whereabouts, describing her as ‘vulnerable’ and possibly ‘confused’.
Officers have now expanded their search, with 50 Suffolk Lowland Search and Rescue (SulSAR) volunteers taking part alongside specialist officers and dogs.
The search area has also been widened to remoter areas, including Nacton, Levington, Nacton Shore and Trinity Marshes.
Detective Superintendent Tom Pearse said: ‘This weekend we will be continuing and expanding our search operation to locate Christine.
‘We continue to ask residents to check their gardens, their sheds and outbuildings and to look through any CCTV they may have and that dog walkers be attentive when walking in woodland, near watercourses and wetlands and to report any information that may assist police.
‘I’d like to also reiterate our caution for anyone considering starting their own search activity as the recent rain has made some areas hazardous, and the drop in temperature increases the risk of exposure.
Christine’s car, a blue Toyota Yaris, was located at a retail park in the Pinewood area, five miles west from her home in Rushmere St Andrew, near Ipswich
‘Every reported sighting is being investigated, and we remain grateful to the public, specialist groups and the media for their support.
‘We remain extremely concerned for Christine’s welfare as she is vulnerable and could be confused. Any information anyone has on her whereabouts could be crucial in helping to find her.’
Christine’s nephew Tom told the Ipswich Star: ‘We thank everyone for their support and kind wishes so far.
‘Please, can we remind anyone who lives in any of the areas mentioned to check their gardens and outbuildings for anything that can help the police and rescue teams.
‘However small it seems, it could really help find her and get her home safely.’
Anyone with information is asked to contact Suffolk Police quoting CAD 257 of 12 November.
