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The Daily News (New Plymouth, New Zealand)

July 8, 2008 Tuesday

NEWS; NATIONAL; Pg. 3

172 words


Police hold grave fears for woman


POLICE fear a missing New Plymouth woman could be dead.

Cynthia Lynette Thompson (53) disappeared from her home in Lower Westown, has not touched her bank accounts or contacted her family for more than three weeks.

Senior Constable Dean Spicer said police had received several phone calls about possible sightings of Ms Thompson but she had not been found.

"Obviously, we still hold that hope (finding her alive), but as further time goes on you obviously start to think along a different track."

Mr Spicer said there was no evidence foul play was involved in her disappearance but police had to keep an open mind.

"We are concerned, the longer the time does go on that no contact has been made and we start thinking of what may have happened to her."

Mr Spicer said police were working closely with Ms Thompson's family, her parents live in Timaru and a sister lives in Stratford.

Ms Thompson is described as a caucasian, 1.52m tall (five foot), slim-to- medium build with short, thick, grey hair.

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CAPTION:

Cynthia Thompson

July 9, 2008

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All Rights Reserved

The Daily News (New Plymouth, New Zealand)

July 7, 2008 Monday

NEWS; NATIONAL; Pg. 5

293 words


Fears grow for safety of missing woman


INCREASING fears are held for the safety of a New Plymouth woman who has not been seen for at least three weeks.

"She's just disappeared off the face of the earth," Detective Senior Sergeant Grant Coward said.

Family and friends have heard nothing from her and her bank accounts remain untouched.

"We are obviously very concerned about her whereabouts."

Police have released a photo of Cynthia Lynette Thompson (53), taken off CCTV footage in New Plymouth's TSB Bank central branch, in the hope it will jog people's memories.

It was very unusual for a woman of Ms Thompson's age to have gone missing, he said.

Ms Thompson's landlord first raised the alarm when the beneficiary's rent went unpaid for two weeks. She had always promptly paid her rent in the past.

When the landlord went to check Ms Thompson's flat, he noticed the car was in the garage. Increasingly concerned when there was no sign of Ms Thompson, he contacted police.

"He did the right thing in raising the alarm," Mr Coward said.

Ms Thompson's parents live in Timaru and they and her brothers and sisters, one of whom lives in Stratford, are increasingly desperate to hear from her.

Victim support counsellors were helping her elderly parents deal with their distress, he said.

Mr Coward asked people to assist in tracking Ms Thompson's whereabouts.

"Police have conducted extensive inquiries. We need the public to have a good look at the photo and contact us if they have any information."

Ms Thompson is described as a dress size 12 to 14, 1.524m (five foot) tall with short, greying, thick wavy hair.

She has lived in New Plymouth for four months after shifting from the South Island.

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CAPTION:

A video image of missing woman Cynthia Thompson at the TSB Bank on June 13.

Picture: SUPPLIED

July 9, 2008

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