Police have located a body during the search for a mother who was allegedly kidnapped and murdered by her estranged son. The remains were discovered in bushland off Mt Banks Rd in the Blue Mountains National Park at approximately 2:30pm on Sunday, two weeks after 58-year-old Sandra Popovic disappeared.
Discovery and Identification
The body has not yet been formally identified, but police believe it is Sandra Popovic. The discovery came after police charged her 33-year-old son, Ante Ivan Popovic, with murder. NSW Police Superintendent Barry Vincent confirmed the development, stating that while formal identification is pending, evidence strongly suggests the remains are those of Sandra.
Timeline of Disappearance
Sandra Popovic told family she was meeting her son at John Curtin Reserve in Winston Hills, in Sydney's northwest, on June 8. She never returned home. Her car was found on Dodson Crescent about 9:30am the following day. CCTV footage appears to show Ante Popovic's white Toyota Hilux circling streets in the area shortly after 4pm on Monday, before Sandra arrived about 5:10pm.
Superintendent Vincent said the pair had arranged to meet to discuss borrowing money. He noted that communications directed towards Sandra before the meeting were "hostile in nature." Police allege Sandra's phone was in her son's possession when he drove west into regional New South Wales about 5:14pm, and that she was not with him when he later returned.
Arrest and Charges
Ante Popovic was arrested on June 11 while sitting in a white Toyota Hilux in bushland along Parnell Fire Trail at Tomerong, about 20km south of Nowra. He was charged with murder and remains before the court. Vincent explained why police proceeded with a murder charge before Sandra's body had been located: "Following the investigation, we were satisfied there was sufficient evidence for us to put the matter before the court."
Background and Investigation
Vincent described Sandra as a mother of several children and said Ante had been estranged from her. He added that Ante was well known to officers. A report will be prepared for the coroner. The investigation continues as authorities work to formally identify the body and piece together the events leading to Sandra's death.
