A CANDLELIGHT vigil will mark the seven-year anniversary of the disappearance of Dubbo mother Lateesha Nolan as a strike force team continues to hunt for the man police fear may have harmed her.
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Malcolm Naden is wanted on warrants for the January 4, 2005 disappearance of Lateesha, the June 23, 2005 murder of her friend Kristy Scholes and a 2004 aggravated indecent assault on a teenaged girl.
Lateehsa, a mother of four, was last seen at her grandmother’s West Dubbo home.
She was then aged 24 and described as 165cm tall, of medium build and complexion with green/hazel eyes and brown hair.
Her car was later found abandoned near the Macquarie River.
Lateesha’s father Mick Peet said hopes of finding her alive were high during the early days of the police search.
"But after Kristy was found murdered I realised Lateesha was most likely dead too," Mr Peet said.
"I think about Lateesha all day, every day. I’ve done everything humanly possible to find her."
Mr Peet said family and friends will gather at his Bundaberg home on Wednesday for a candlelight vigil in memory of Lateesha.
“I’ve been on edge ever since Lateesha went missing but my emotions run even higher as January 4 approaches,’’ Mr Peet said.
“Malcolm Naden holds the key to my daughter’s whereabouts. I hope and pray that he will be taken alive by police. If Malcolm is killed I fear Lateesha will be lost to us forever.’’
Naden has been on the run for six-and-a-half years. The reward for his capture has been increased to $250,000 but he continues to evade police in a cat and mouse search in rugged terrain at Nowendoc.
Police snipers have taken to the air in helicopters equipped with heat-seeking cameras. On the ground heavily armed officers are conducting a meticulous search in a strict grid pattern.
Naden was seen by police just over a week ago when two officers went to investigate reports of a break-in at a remote cabin at Niangala. He evaded police and escaped into bushland.
On December 7 a police officer was shot as a strike force team closed in on a remote bush camp used by Naden.
Naden is described as being 177 centimetres tall with a medium build, brown eyes, a moustache and closely cropped hair.’’
Anyone who can assist police with information should call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.