Australian authorities have escalated the investigation into the mysterious disappearance of Trisha Graf, a 41-year-old woman who vanished in the remote South Australian outback over a month ago. The case has now been officially classified as a major crime operation as police prepare to launch renewed search efforts starting Tuesday.
According to South Australian Police, Graf was last seen departing the Roxby Downs hotel with a companion shortly after 12:19 AM on December 12th. Investigators revealed they will be conducting systematic door-knock operations in Andamooka and surrounding areas where the missing woman was last spotted. The search will concentrate on multiple locations identified during recent investigative developments.
Detective Superintendent Darren Fielke, officer-in-charge of the Major Crime Investigation Branch, emphasized the urgency of locating individuals who were with Graf at the Roxby Downs Hotel and those who reportedly saw her after she returned to Andamooka. “We know people were with Trisha and saw her after she returned to Andamooka. We need to speak with them,” Superintendent Fielke stated in an official release.
The investigation has uncovered that Graf’s vehicle, a white 2012 Ford Territory with license plate S254BCX, struck a kangaroo shortly before reaching Andamooka, located approximately 560 kilometers north of Adelaide. Despite the collision, Graf and her friend proceeded to a residence in the northwest sector of the remote town before she departed alone around 2:00 AM.
Her vehicle was subsequently discovered abandoned and perched on a dirt mound near Blue Dam, east of Andamooka, displaying damage consistent with the reported kangaroo collision. Extensive search operations involving police units, State Emergency Service crews, and community volunteers have conducted comprehensive ground and aerial searches covering a 4.7-kilometer radius around the vehicle. Police divers have additionally scoured Blue Dam without success.
The investigation continues to involve specialized units including the Far North and Port Augusta police, Missing Persons Section, and Polair aviation support. Authorities are urging anyone with information regarding Graf’s whereabouts or movements preceding her disappearance to contact Crime Stoppers immediately.