29 Aug 2023

Yanfei Bao: Police prepare to search sites in Greenpark area

1:57 pm on 29 August 2023
Yanfei Bao

Photo: Supplied

Police investigating the disappearance of Christchurch woman Yanfei Bao are putting the search for her on hold this week.

Bao vanished from the suburb of Hornby on 19 July.

Last week, police were focusing on a farm in Greenpark, which is close to a previous search location - Lake Ellesmere.

Police and Fire and Emergency New Zealand are again searching for Yanfei Bao in the Greenpark, Christchurch area on 25 August, 2023.

Police and Fire and Emergency New Zealand were searching for Yanfei Bao in the Greenpark, Christchurch area on 25 August. Photo: RNZ / Nathan McKinnon

There was no planned search activity this week but work was continuing to prepare search sites in the Greenpark area, a police spokesperson said.

The man accused of kidnapping and murdering Bao was due back in court on Friday.

Lake Ellesmere search linked to Yanfei Bao case

Police during Lake Ellesmere search on 25 July. Photo: RNZ / Nate McKinnon

Bao's disappearance

The 44-year-old mother was last seen on 19 July, prompting a missing persons investigation.

That investigation was upgraded to a homicide inquiry on 26 July after police said they no longer believed she was alive.

Police undertook a forensic examination at a property for sale on Trevor Street in Hornby, the last location she was seen alive.

Searches have also taken place in and around Halswell River and Lake Ellesmere.

Water levels have caused some issues with searches - with police having to wait at times for water levels to recede in order to continue searching.

The police are appealing for information on a tracksuit, a top and spade in relation to Christchurch woman Yanfei Bao's missing.

警方发布了四张与此案相关的新照片, 并呼吁公众提供相关信息,其中包括一身红白相间的运动服、一件条纹上衣和一把约1米长的Xcel牌铁锹。 Photo: Supplied

Items of interest

Police made a public plea on 15 August for a spade and clothing believed to be linked to the murder investigation.

Detective Inspector Nicola Reeves told Checkpoint investigators were seeking a grey tracksuit, a distinctive patterned sweater and a metre-long Xcel brand spade.

Reeves said they were discarded somewhere in the Christchurch area between midday Wednesday, 19 July, and 5pm Saturday, 22 July.

"Whether it's been discarded on the side of the road or hidden somewhere, and people happen to see it on their travels, then we would like to be contacted about that."

The police are appealing for information about the track suit, top and spade in relation to Christchurch woman Yanfei Bao's missing.

警方发布了四张与此案相关的新照片, 并呼吁公众提供相关信息,其中包括一身红白相间的运动服、一件条纹上衣和一把约1米长的Xcel牌铁锹。 Photo: Supplied