Missing woman investigation upgraded to murder
The disappearance of a pregnant Irish woman almost three decades ago has been upgraded to a murder Inquiry.
A new search is also underway to try to find the remains of Fiona Pender, 25, who went missing in County Offaly.
She was last seen at about 06:00 on 23 August 1996 at her flat on Church Street, Tullamore.
Gardaí (Irish police) have now announced that their investigation into Ms Pender's murder has been reclassified as a murder investigation based on the entirety of the information available to investigators.
A new search is also underway on open ground believed to be close to Killeigh in County Offaly.
Gardaí say the area will be subjected to excavation, technical and forensic examinations over the coming days.
Garda teams have conducted significant enquiries and what they describe as a sustained investigation over the last 28 years in an effort to establish what happened to Ms Pender.
During this time, investigators say they have collated thousands of documents and reports, taken more than 300 statements of evidence and retained a number of exhibits.
Extensive searches have been carried out and five people have been arrested and detained in connection with this investigation, according to Gardaí.
Fiona Pender was described as 5'5" in height, with long blonde hair and she was wearing bright coloured clothing and white leggings when she went missing.
She was seven months pregnant at the time of her disappearance.
No one has been brought to justice for her disappearance.
Gardaí have renewed their appeal to anyone who may have any information about the case and who has not contacted investigators to come forward.
They have also appealed for help from anyone who may have previously come forward but felt at the time they could not provide Gardaí with all the information they had about the disappearance of Ms Pender.
The young woman was said to be looking forward to the birth of her baby when she disappeared.
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