A mother-of-three who disappeared without a trace last week told family members she was meeting with her estranged son to discuss borrowing money.
Police launched an investigation into the disappearance of the 58-year-old woman, identified by 7News as Sandra Popovic, after she failed to return to her home in Sydney’s northwest on Tuesday.
Her son Ante Popovic, 33, has been charged over her alleged kidnapping and murder. Her body is yet to be found.
Family members told officers they last heard from Ms Popovic about 4.50pm on Monday when she told them she was meeting her son in Winston Hills.
Her car was found on Dodson Crescent about 9.30am on Tuesday.
‘It’ll be alleged that they were meeting there to talk about perhaps borrowing some money,’ Superintendent Barry Vincent said on Friday.
‘When the family were informed of the action taken by police yesterday, they were obviously shocked.’
He said Ms Popovic had cared for her elderly parents and had been ‘estranged’ from her son before her disappearance.
Police are investigating the disappearance of a 58-year-old mother of three, identified by 7News as Sandra Popovic, after she failed to return to her home on Tuesday
Ante Popovic has been charged over the alleged kidnapping and murder of his mother
Mrs Popovic drove to John Curtin Reserve in Winston Hills about 5.10pm on Monday
Two days later, detectives arrested Popovic while he was sitting in a white Toyota Hilux in bushland along Parnell Fire Trail in Tomerong, south of Nowra.
He allegedly had his mother’s phone, Supt Vincent said.
Popovic was taken to Nowra Police Station, where he was charged with murder and remanded in custody.
He did not apply for bail when he appeared in court on Friday.
The matter will return to Parramatta Court on August 13.
‘The body of the woman has not yet been located,’ NSW Police said in a statement.
‘Investigations are ongoing.’
