Mick Peet says his blood pressure has skyrocketed due to increasing friction between family camps supporting and condemning Naden.

“There are pins and needles running up my arms and legs and the doctor has increased my medication fearing I could have another heart attack,’’ Mr Peet told the Daily Liberal yesterday.

“The gulf in the family is very sad with some relatives and friends firm in their belief that Malcolm is innocent.

“Others have a completely different view and seek answers to Lateesha’s January 2005 disappearance and the June 2005 strangulation murder of (her friend) Kristy Scholes.’’

With a $250,000 bounty on his head, Naden is also wanted on warrants for a 2004 aggravated indecent assault on a teenaged girl and the December 2011 shooting of a police officer.

Mr Peet said strife within the extended family reached a new low when 60 Minutes flew his family from Bundaberg to Dubbo to film a story on the Naden manhunt.

“Coming back to Dubbo was very difficult,’’ Mr Peet said.

“I tried my hardest to be strong but ended up breaking down in front of the camera crew.

“Walking along the Macquarie River where Lateesha’s wallet was found last October I experienced a really eerie feeling. I had visions of her being thrown into the water or buried in a makeshift grave.

“I hope and pray every day that Malcolm Naden will be taken in alive. Without him we may never know what happened to Lateesha.’’

The 60 Minutes story - originally scheduled to air this Sunday - has been postponed until later in the month.

Producer Danny Keens yesterday revealed new information was being obtained before the program was finalised.

Mick Peet said the 60 Minutes delay was another thing to worry about.

“I am hopeful that national television exposure may help bring a breakthrough that will lead to Naden’s capture,’’ he said.

“But at the same time I worry about causing more upset in the family.

“Lateesha was Malcolm Naden’s cousin. We were all once very close and I can understand how some family and friends don’t want to believe he has done anything wrong.

“But there is also a need to be realistic - Malcolm is wanted by the police and the expert strike force searching in the Barrington Tops is determined to find him.’’

Mr Peet said he has been criticised for being too co-operative with the media.

“Some family members say they are sick of seeing my face on television and in newspapers. But my objective has only ever been to heighten awareness of the need for people to come forward with information about Malcolm Naden.’’

Mr Peet was pursued by Today Tonight this week but declined to be interviewed.-

“I told journalist David Richardson (a former Radio 2DU news reader) that I was obligated to 60 Minutes,’’ Mr Peet said.

“Today Tonight went ahead with a segment (broadcast on Wednesday night) using old footage I did with 7 News last year.’’

Mr Peet continues to monitor the Naden manhunt from Bundaberg where 15kg of newspaper clippings collected over the past six-and-a-half years are stored in a large suitcase.

“I will never give up looking for Lateesha,’’ he said.

“I now accept that she is most probably dead but I need to know what happened to her.”