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Police have released an image in the hope a witness will come forward to assist with their investigation of Kathleen Lidden’s disappearance.
They believe the woman may have had some interaction with Kathleen around the time she was last seen on June 13.
Hume LAC crime manager Detective Inspector Chad Gillies said there was nothing sinister about the situation, but that police hoped the witness would recognise themselves in the image and be able to contact police and provide further information.
He said police believed the woman may have “crossed paths” with Ms Lidden outside a day spa on the Old Hume Highway, Mittagong.
Kathleen Lidden is described as being 162cm tall, with a thin build, and short brown hair. She was last seen wearing a yellow/cream coloured fleece jumper, thick grey tracksuit pants, white joggers, white scarf, and carrying a dark brown/black backpack.
Anyone with information that may assist the investigation is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or Bowral Police Station on 4862 9299.
Thursday, June 22:
Up to 70 police and SES members have grouped this morning to resume a ground search for Kathleen Lidden.
The police officers, attached to the Southern Region, joined with State Emergency Service (SES) volunteers at the SES Wingecarribee Unit headquarters in Mittagong after 8.30am.
Hume Local Area Command crime manager Detective Inspector Chad Gillies said a ground search of the Mittagong area would continue.
“We’ve got about 70 police and SES who will continue a ground search, and will be assisted by PolAir,” he said.
Police established Strike Force Aeons to co-ordinate the investigation into Kathleen’s disappearance and efforts to locate her. Officers from the Hume Local Area Command have been joined by the Public Order Riot Squad, officers from the Police Trail Bike squad and SES volunteers as they search the Mount Gibraltar bushland area.
Monday, June 19:
Inspector John Sheehan said police were still searching the areas surrounding Lake Alexandra.
“Searches are being conducted in a number of different areas,” he said.
Inspector Sheehan said police were also investigating other lines of enquiry like bank accounts.
Saturday, June 17:
Police divers began a search of Lake Alexandra at Mittagong, as a process of elimination in their ongoing investigation.
Divers finished searching Lake Alexandra about 12pm. Sergeant Josh Lisle said the Lake was given the all-clear. “This was an area that had to be cleared and we didn’t find anything of interest,” he said.
The divers headed to 60 Foot Falls in Mittagong on Saturday afternoon to see if the area “was worthy of a search”.
“We will head there as well as a couple of other places for the rest of today and probably tomorrow,” Sergeant Lisle said.
Friday, June 16:
Police Rescue Squad and SES members continued a ground search of Mount Alexandra between Mittagong and Bowral, and in the afternoon moved around to search the base of Mount Gibraltar.
The ground search was suspended for the weekend.
Thursday, June 15:
Police and SES began a ground search looking for leads in the disappearance of Kathleen, focused on Mount Alexandra in Mittagong.
Wednesday, June 14:
Initial investigations began with a PolAir helicopter on June 14, with an air search of Mount Gibraltar, Lake Alexandra and surrounding areas.
Tuesday, June 13:
Ms Lidden, from the Bowral area, was last seen about 12.30pm on June 13, captured on CCTV at Dan Murphy’s in Mittagong Shopping Village.
Kathleen runs an art class, which she did not show up for on Tuesday evening.
Inspector Klepczarek said that was very unusual for Kathleen.
“She runs an art class which she never misses, and she wasn’t at home for that,” he said.