An extensive and urgent search operation is intensifying across Suffolk for a 78-year-old woman described as 'vulnerable' who has been missing from her home for ten days.
Christine Murton was last seen on Wednesday, 12 November, after leaving her home in Rushmere St Andrew, near Ipswich. She has not been in contact with family or friends since her disappearance, prompting growing concern for her welfare.
Key Sightings and Discovery of Vehicle
The investigation into Christine's whereabouts has uncovered crucial pieces of evidence. Footage from a house close to her home captured her walking along a road at approximately 10.40am on the day she vanished. Later, at 2.45pm, CCTV filmed her walking along a footpath on the edge of the nearby village of Nacton, heading in the direction of Decoy Wood, which is around four miles from her home.
A significant breakthrough came when police located Christine's car, a blue Toyota Yaris. The vehicle was found abandoned at a retail park in the Pinewood area, situated five miles west of her home. Authorities believe the car had been parked there 'for a number of weeks'.
Expanded Search Operation Underway
In response to this discovery, the search has been dramatically expanded to include remote woods, marshland, and coastal areas. A major operation involving 50 volunteers from the Suffolk Lowland Search and Rescue (SulSAR) team is now focused on locations including Nacton, Levington, Nacton Shore, and Trinity Marshes.
The search effort utilises a wide range of resources, including drones, the police helicopter, specialist trained search dogs, and the Coastguard. Detective Superintendent Tom Pearse of Suffolk Police stated that the search teams are dealing with hazardous conditions due to recent rain and a concerning drop in temperature, which increases the risk of exposure.
Appeal to the Public
Police have issued a fresh appeal, describing Christine as a white woman, of slim build, around 5ft 7ins tall, with short, dark hair and glasses. On the day she went missing, she was wearing a purple jacket, blue trousers and carrying a large shoulder bag.
Detective Superintendent Pearse has urged the public to assist in the search. 'We continue to ask residents to check their gardens, their sheds and outbuildings,' he said. He also asked that dog walkers be particularly attentive in woodland areas and near watercourses.
Christine’s nephew, Tom, echoed this sentiment, thanking the public for their support and reiterating the plea for people to check their properties, stating that any piece of information, no matter how small, could be vital.
Anyone with any information is asked to contact Suffolk Police immediately, quoting reference CAD 257 of 12 November.
