The body of a woman found partially submerged in a stock dip on a rural NSW property has been identified as 73-year-old grandmother Yvonne Whear.
Ms Whear disappeared from Murwillumbah, in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales, on February 19, 2026.
Her body was discovered in an advanced state of decomposition by two trail bike riders on Monday last week.
Police said she was found in a tank used to treat livestock for ticks and other parasites.
Forensic and post-mortem examinations carried out over the past week confirmed her identity, which police publicly announced on Tuesday morning.
NSW Police have confirmed a homicide investigation is underway.
Ms Whear’s disappearance sparked an extensive search after she was last seen on CCTV in Murwillumbah on February 19.
At about 3.15pm that day, she was captured buying orange juice and adding credit to her mobile phone at a Shell service station.
The body of a woman found partially submerged in a stock dip on a rural property in NSW has been identified as 73-year-old grandmother Yvonne Whear
She was last seen on February 19 buying orange juice and topping up her phone credit at a Shell service station
Security cameras later captured Ms Whear driving north along Queensland Road towards her hobby farm on the outskirts of Dungay, near the Queensland border, at about 3.20pm.
Phone records indicated she watched YouTube videos that afternoon before accessing her voicemail shortly before 5pm.
The final signal from her phone was detected by a mobile tower near Dungay at about 10am the following day, February 20. It has not been detected since.
Ms Whear maintained regular contact with her family, prompting her daughter, Gillian Hallac, to grow concerned when two days passed without hearing from her.
Investigators initially considered whether Ms Whear had been involved in an accident on the region’s winding roads. However, fears for her safety mounted as searches failed to find either her or her gold Ford Escape.
Police launched an extensive search operation, deploying drones and helicopters while divers combed the Rous and Tweed rivers.
A breakthrough came in mid-September when divers discovered the missing SUV in the Rous River at Dulguigan, not far from Ms Whear’s home.
The vehicle was pulled from the water for forensic testing and a mechanical inspection. Items believed to belong to Ms Whear were also recovered.
NSW Police have confirmed a homicide investigation is underway
In September, seven months after her disappearance, NSW Police found her car submerged in a river
Ms Whear was embroiled in a long-running dispute over the lease for the farm she had rented for 23 years, where she kept ducks, chickens, dogs, rabbits and cats.
She was scheduled to attend a hearing at the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal the following week.
Her daughter, Gillian Hallac told the Sydney Morning Herald in August that despite the legal proceedings, her mother had no reason to abandon her life and responsibilities.
‘She had a life with plans and responsibilities and people who loved her,’ Ms Hallac said.
‘We don’t believe she had any ordinary reasons to leave the property that evening.’
Tweed/Byron Police District Commander, Acting Superintendent Matt Zimmer, said investigators remained determined to find those responsible and provide answers for Ms Whear’s family
‘Yvonne’s family has endured many months of uncertainty, and they deserve answers. We are committed to pursuing every line of inquiry and urge anyone who can assist to contact police.’
As inquiries continue, anyone with information is urged to contact Tweed Heads Police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
