‘A Desperate Search for Justice’: Police Scour Bushland for Body of Mother Allegedly Murdered by Her Own Son
- 58-year-old Sandra Popovic was last seen meeting her estranged son, Ante Ivan Popovic, at a Sydney park on Monday
- Ante, 33, has been charged with murder and refused bail, despite Sandra’s body still being missing
- Police have found Sandra’s car and tracked Ante’s ute to areas west of the Blue Mountains, where they are searching for her body
- Sandra’s family is appealing for anyone with information to come forward, as detectives face an enormous task of scouring huge tracts of bushland
The frantic search for Sandra Popovic, a 58-year-old mother of several children, has entered its fourth day, with police scouring vast areas of bushland in a desperate bid to find her body.
Sandra’s estranged son, Ante Ivan Popovic, 33, has been charged with her murder, despite her body still being missing.
The case has sent shockwaves through the community, with many left wondering how a son could allegedly turn against his own mother in such a brutal manner.
Sandra was last heard from on Monday at around 4:50 pm, when she told family members she was meeting Ante at John Curtin Reserve in Winston Hills, Sydney’s northwest.
However, when she failed to return home and relatives were unable to contact her, police launched an investigation. Sandra’s car was found on Dodson Crescent the following morning, but there was no sign of her.
Ante was arrested on Thursday while sitting in a white Toyota Hilux in bushland along Parnell Fire Trail at Tomerong, about 20 km south of Nowra.
He was charged with murder and refused bail when he appeared before court on Friday. CCTV footage appears to show Ante’s ute circling streets in the area shortly after 4 pm on Monday, before Sandra arrived around 5:10 pm.
According to Superintendent Barry Vincent, the pair had arranged to meet to discuss borrowing money, but communications directed towards Sandra before the meeting were “hostile in nature”.
Police allege Sandra’s phone was in Ante’s possession when he drove west into regional NSW about 5:14 pm, and that she was not with him when he later returned.
“Following the investigation today, we were satisfied that there was sufficient evidence for us to put the matter before the court,” Vincent said, explaining why police proceeded with a murder charge before Sandra’s body had been located.
“We have obtained forensic evidence as part of the inquiry.” Detectives have tracked the son’s ute to areas out west, beyond the Blue Mountains, and that’s where they’re searching for a body.
Analysis: What This Means for Australia
This case raises serious concerns about the safety of women in Australia, particularly those who are vulnerable to family violence.
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics Australian Bureau of Statistics, one in six women have experienced physical or sexual violence by a current or former partner.
The fact that Ante was well known to officers and had a history of hostility towards his mother raises questions about the effectiveness of the justice system in protecting victims of family violence.
Law enforcement insiders warn that this case highlights the need for a more proactive approach to addressing family violence. “We need to be more vigilant in identifying signs of family violence and taking action to prevent it,” said one expert.
“This case is a tragic reminder of the devastating consequences of family violence and the need for us to do more to prevent it.”
As the search for Sandra’s body continues, her devastated family is appealing for anyone with information to come forward.
Police are urging residents in Winston Hills, especially those living near John Curtin Reserve on Dodson Crescent, to review any CCTV or dashcam footage captured between 4:30 pm and 6 pm on Monday.
Anyone who saw a white Toyota Hilux dual-cab ute in the area during that time is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.
