Detective Inspector Darryl Sweeney says search is widened as family are deeply distressed
The family of missing Christchurch builder Michael McGrath has today made a public appeal for information on his whereabouts, saying they are "desperate" to get him home.
Police say they are still hopeful of finding 49-year-old McGrath alive after he was last seen at his Checketts Ave home in thesuburb of Halswell on May 21. He was reported missing two days later.
"His disappearance is completely out of character and his family are deeply concerned," his brother Simon said today at a police press conference.
"Mike was approximately 184cm tall, is of slight, fit build and has brown/grey hair. "Michael lived alone. He enjoyed his work as a builder.
"His family and friends are desperate to get him home and we're making this plea for any sightings or activity.
"Someone could have some sort of information which will help the police. It might appear trivial but it may be the piece of the puzzle we need to solve this mystery."
Detective Inspector Darryl Sweeney, who is leading the missing persons probe, said the longer it goes, the more concerned police are for McGrath's wellbeing.
Sweeney said it was out of character for McGrath to disappear. He described him as a reliable, hard-working man of routine.
Yesterday police confirmed that Christchurch Men's Prison Corrections officer David Benbow is "a person of interest who needs to be eliminated from the inquiry".
The prison guard's rural property just a few kilometres from McGrath's house has been the focus of a massive police investigation since Wednesday night.
David Benbow is a person of interest in the police investigation into missing Christchurch man Michael McGrath. Photo / Supplied
Benbow is listed as owning the property, on the corner of Candys Rd and Sabys Rd just outside Halswell, with Joanna Green.
However, it's understood that the pair are now separated.
It's believed that Benbow has been living at a relative's nearby home.
Police now say they have "spoken to a number" of people of interest and "continue to do so as the inquiry broadens".
Sweeney said they are eliminating persons of interest all the time.
Police looking into the disappearance of Christchurch man Michael McGrath at a property on the corner of Candys Rd and Sabys Rd. Photo / Kurt Bayer
Police say finding McGrath alive is still the goal.
"Michael, wherever you are, your family would really like to see you," Sweeney said.
Police have also been looking at a third property in connection to McGrath's disappearance - a house owned by Benbow's mother Shirley in the quiet Halswell cul de sac of Viceroy Place.
Armed police patrolled the cordon around the Benbow property yesterday.
A large blue police tent, which was initially erected on the road at the entrance to the property, has since been moved inside the gates.
White-suited forensic experts combed the area extensively.
Police have also been looking at two cars.
Dogs, shovels, and other search tools have been used at the property today.
Sweeney wouldn't comment whether McGrath - who was a carpenter who did cash work - had been doing any renovations at the Benbow property in recent weeks. Asked if there had been any evidence of violence at any of the scenes, Sweeney said: "No. I'm not going to go down the scene track at the moment, other than we are examining them. At the moment, this is a missing person inquiry, I make that quite clear."
Today, Sweeney said police was grateful for the help of the media and public, but said: "We do need more help".
Police have now renewed their appeal for sightings of McGrath.
They are particularly interested in the three days spanning May 21-23.
"We know Michael was a keen cyclist and he used his bike around the Halswell area," Sweeney said.
Police released a photo of his bike in the hope that someone had seen him on it.
Bike belonging to Michael McGrath. Photo / Supplied
Sunday, May 21 was an overcast day early before turning sunny and police think keen cyclists and runners in the Halswell area could have seen McGrath on his bike wearing a white and navy helmet.
It is "possible but not certain" that he was wearing any of the following clothing: blue jeans, black thermal long-sleeved top, black t-shirt with red lettering on the sleeve, Hi Tech shoes, chunky knit grey jersey.
McGrath could have been seen around locals shops on Monday May 21, and Tuesday May 22, police say, possibly in his blue 1994 Subaru Legacy station wagon.
Police asked if McGrath had done any building work at their property, then to also get in touch.
"Has he been working at your place on building contracts? Really that is our focus," Sweeney said.
He confirmed that police have received vehicle sightings from the public, as well as "interesting events that have come to us".
From mid-late tomorrow morning, police will also be conducted a large, grid block search operation around the Sabys Rd area, using both civilian and police search and rescue teams.
Officers started knocking his neighbours' doors last Thursday and have completed a major scene examination of his red-bricked house.
Corrections have referred all enquiries to police.
Missing person posters have been placed around the area.
Anyone who has information about McGrath or has employed him in the past few weeks is asked to call Christchurch police on (03) 363 7400 and cite file number 170523/6008.
Information can also be provided anonymously by calling Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
