The body of missing Adelaide woman Colleen South has been found in a paddock in rural Victoria over a month after she was reported missing.
Mildura police told ABC News that the body was discovered by a farmer in a paddock in Bunguluke, Victoria, and had yet to be formally identified, but was “highly probable” the body was the missing 58-year-old.
The body was discovered under a large tree in high grass mere kilometres away from Ms South’s abandoned car that was discovered crashed in a ditch on July 3.
A report is currently being put together for the state coroner, including a review into the search process of the crashed vehicle and why Ms South’s body wasn’t initially found.
Ms South was first reported missing on July 1 and was last seen on CCTV at a Calder Highway petrol station at Berriwillock, Victoria on July 3 before her car was found 30 kilometres away later that day.
As previously reported, some of Ms South’s belongings were found strewn 20 metres away from her car, including her handbag, keys and a journal that contained the handwritten message “help me please”.
This ominous note had family members convinced that foul play was involved in Ms South’s disappearance.
Ms South’s family took to the Bring Colleen South Home Facebook page to confirm the outcome, writing that they were “heartbroken and in shock”.
“We want to thank everyone from the bottom of our hearts for your endless support, calls and messages for the past five weeks. We are so grateful.
“Fly high, our beautiful angel.”
