Police say they hold “grave fears” for a woman who remains missing after blood was found in her Gold Coast home not long after she called police about a burglary.
61-year-old Wendy Sleeman called police around 3pm on Tuesday to report someone breaking into her Elanora home.
When officers arrived at the Ironbark Street home around half an hour later they found the door mat on fire and blood in the property.
Nobody was found inside the property.
It’s since been revealed the person suspected of breaking into the home was Ms Sleeman’s 30-year-old son, Slade Murdok.
Police have launched a desperate public appeal to try and find Wendy and Slade, who may be travelling in blue Honda Jazz bearing Queensland registration 952AT4.
Speaking outside the property on Wednesday morning, Regional Crime Co-ordinator, Detective Superintendent Brendan Smith, said police held “grave concerns” for Ms Sleeman.
“The scene in the house would suggest there has been some violence,” Detective Superintendent Smith said.
“At this point it’s a missing person. My priority is finding her.
“But I’ve got grave concerns and the disappearance and the evidence would suggest it’s highly suspicious.”
Detectives are conducting widespread searches across the Gold Coast and also in Brisbane, with POLAIR also being brought in to help with the search.
“We’ve got recent intelligence to suggest that maybe they may be closer to Brisbane now so we’re focusing some of our efforts in that area,” he said.
Aside from the Honda Jazz, police are also looking to find details about the movements of a Ford Laser that Mr Murdok is believed to have been travelling in earlier in the day that was located at the property.
A male person was also seen returning to the property around 7.30-8.00pm on Tuesday, looking to recover the vehicle before leaving.
Police believe it could have been the son but they couldn’t be certain.
Supt Smith said there had been “ongoing issues” between the pair since 2016, and Ms Sleeman and she had taken out a domestic violence order against him in 2021.
“There’s been some support from various government agencies along the way,” Supt Smith said.
“Unfortunately it would appear that that’s failed.
“That’s part of the ongoing investigation.”
Wendy had called police earlier in the day to report her son being near her workplace, in contravention to the orders in place.
Police have assured the public there is no imminent threat.
“At this point there’s no issue for public concern or its a random attack,” Smith said.
“It’s clearly a targeted issue between mother and son.”
However, police have urged anyone who sees Mr Murdok not to approach him and immediately call Triple Zero.
“I am concerned about his state of mind and the risk to people who would try to interact with him without the proper training,” Supt Smith added.
“Information that we have so far is that he has threatened to harm police officers for example,
“Given the state of the scene, something has happened where someone’s been hurt.”
Anyone with information in relation to either of their whereabouts is urged to immediately contact police.
