The desperate search for a 46-year-old woman who disappeared in southern Western Australia last week has ended with her being found safe and well.
Jodie King, a resident of Darkan in WA’s southern Wheatbelt, had been missing since Wednesday, sparking a large search party with family, friends, police and SES volunteers.
WA Police confirmed today Ms King had been found safe and well.
In a statement from her family, Ms King’s husband, Nathan King, thanked the community for its support during the ordeal.
“I just want to share some great news that Jodie has been found and she is OK,” he said.
“I can’t thank everyone enough for the support, care and efforts that have led to this point.”
Jodie King has been found safe and well after being missing since Wednesday. (Supplied: WA Police)
Graeme Peirce coordinated a community-led search for Ms King over the weekend, which involved up to 50 residents combing several sites around Collie, Pinjarra and Boddington.
“The police were informed that Jodie couldn’t be contacted at her last known location, which was a phone tower ping on Wednesday, just east of the Logue Brook dam,” he said.
“Subsequently, on Thursday and Friday, police, along with the family, searched that area by vehicle and helicopter, and neither Jodie or a car were found.
Graeme Peirce coordinated the community-led search for Jodie King. (ABC Great Southern: Andrew Chounding)
“And that’s when the … community rallied together and did what they do.
“It’s just fantastic to see everyone out there. It’s heartwarming … it’s mind-blowing.”
Ms King, a nurse and farmer in Darkan, was instrumental in resurrecting the annual agricultural show, the Darkan Sheep Fest.
Mr Peirce said Ms King was a well-liked and respected member of the community, whose disappearance had been heavily felt in the tight-knit town.
Before she was found, police had said the initial search had been expanded to cover a number of locations across WA’s South West, including the Mount William Tower, Lake Brockman and Logue Brook Dam.
