GARDAI investigating the disappearance last month of Co Offaly woman, Ms Fiona Pender (25), have not ruled out the possibility that the case could become a murder investigation.
Supt Gerry Murray from Tullamore, who is in charge of the investigation, said yesterday there was no evidence that the heavily pregnant woman has been murdered.
He said the case was still being treated as a missing person investigation. While a future murder hunt could not be ruled out, there were currently no plans to step up the investigation, he said.
Concern over Ms Pender's safety has been growing since she disappeared from her flat in Church Street, Tullamore, over three weeks ago.
A hairdresser, she was last seen by her boyfriend, Mr John Thompson (23), at 6 a.m. on August 23rd, when he left the flat to work on his family's farm.
Her bank account and her Visa card have not been used and money which was in the couple's flat had not been touched.
Supt Murray said there have been over six sightings of Ms Pender, four of which are still being considered.
"We are checking on various things that have been passed on to us but we are running out of options gradually", he said. Garda have already drained part of the Grand Canal in the town but found nothing. A subaqua team has also searched a three mile stretch of the Tullamore river which runs behind the flat complex where Ms Pender and Mr Thompson lived. They have also issued questionnaires and posted photographs of Ms Pender in local discos and pubs.
Ms Pender's mother, Josephine, said yesterday that she was very worried about her daughter's safety. "It's hard to keep up hope at this stage but we are hoping that she will come back to us safe."
She said she was with her daughter the day before her disappearance and that she was on "great form". "She bought stuff for the baby and a dressing gown for herself. It's just a mystery," she said. Ms Pender's disappearance was featured on RTE's Crimeline programme last night.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Tullamore gardai on the confidential freephone line. tel: 1800 666111.