Police in New South Wales have found the car belonging to Yvonne Whear, a 73-year-old grandmother of 15 who vanished nearly seven months ago, marking a significant development in the search for her. The gold Ford Escape wagon was pulled from the Rous River near Dungay on Saturday, and investigators say the vehicle is now undergoing forensic examination. The discovery has fuelled her family's suspicion that she may have come to harm, with her daughter alleging the car was "deliberately concealed."

Ms Whear disappeared from her rented hobby farm on 19 February after leaving a TAFE course and stopping at a service station; her boots, shirt and hat were later found at the property but no trace of her has since emerged. Her phone was last active around 4.45pm that day, with a final signal pinging east of Dungay the following morning. Police say they have found no evidence she intended to disappear voluntarily and are keeping an open mind, while her family, who recently welcomed her first great-grandchild without her, continue to appeal for information from the public.