Police in Strike Force Karabi, set up to investigate the disappearance, escalated it from a missing person case to a suspected homicide, prompting extensive searches in December of the estate and surrounding semirural properties where Ms McBride was last seen.
Those searches failed to find trace of her, but Muswellbrook police said today that efforts were being renewed this week, with extra resources brought in from as far afield as Sydney. Cadaver dogs, police divers, the police air wing, Operational Support Group officers and police trail bikes will be used in this week’s efforts, but Detective Sergeant Ian Wright said they were not only looking for a body. “We’re looking for any other items that may assist us,” he said.