The wife of a scientist who went missing from work nearly a month ago says she has not given up hope he is alive.
Police called off a search for 43-year-old Jim Donnelly earlier this month because they had no idea what happened to him since he disappeared from the Glenbrook
steel mill, southwest of Auckland, on June 21.
Despite widespread media appeals, there have been no clues to his whereabouts.
But his wife, Tracey Donnelly, said today there was no reason to feel angry about the disappearance.
"I'm just sort of numb... at the moment really."
The feeling he may walk through the door was always with her.
"Every time the phone goes I always run to (answer) it," she told National Radio.
"I like to think that if there was someone helping him that they would get Jim to make some type of contact to at least put out minds at rest, especially for the children's sake."
The couple has two children, aged five and seven.
A digger operator saw a man fitting Mr Donnelly's description running across the mill grounds paddock away from police searchers the day he disappeared.
Police have followed up two other sightings, but they could not be confirmed as Mr Donnelly.
Sergeant John Yearbury, of Pukekohe police, said it would be difficult to find him if he had decided to disappear.
However, there was nothing to suggest he had done that.
The contents of Mr Donnelly's wallet and his keys were found inside a large vat containing hydrochloric acid.
The vat was in a restricted area and was drained after the discovery of Mr Donnelly's hard hat nearby.
Mr Donnelly's bank accounts or cellphone have not been used.
- NZPA
