Yanfei Bao: Police prepare to search sites in Greenpark area

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.

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.

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.

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."