Michelle Leahy: Tragic development as mother of three’s body found following desperate search

Caitlin Vinci and Caleb Runciman
The West Australian
Michelle Leahy, 50, was last spotted leaving the hospital on Monash Avenue in Perth’s western suburb of Nedlands about 3pm on Thursday. 
Michelle Leahy, 50, was last spotted leaving the hospital on Monash Avenue in Perth’s western suburb of Nedlands about 3pm on Thursday.  Credit: Supplied

The body of a mother-of-three who was at the centre of a desperate search after she vanished a week ago has been found.

Michelle Leahy, 50, was found by police on Thursday evening, seven days after she walked from Hollywood Private Hospital last Thursday afternoon.

Police are not treating her death as suspicious.

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The tragic development came just hours after Superintendent Manus Walsh revealed investigators had done letter drops around the Bruce Street area near Stirling Highway in Nedlands.

Supt Walsh said police were particularly interested in finding a blue bag Ms Leahy, aged 50, was carrying when she left the hospital about 3pm.

“If there is opportunities to find that blue bag that may hold some real investigative opportunities for us,” he said.

“That that bag is a disposable item as such, so it may have been left somewhere, which may give us an opportunity to further the investigation.”

CCTV of her last known sighting.
CCTV of her last known sighting. Credit: WA Police/supplied
Ms Leahy seen holding a blue bag.
Ms Leahy seen holding a blue bag. Credit: WA Police/supplied

“We are really appealing to the people’s sense of compassion for this family, as I said, there is three kids who currently don’t know the whereabouts of their mum.”

Superintendent Manus Walsh.
Superintendent Manus Walsh. Credit: Justin Benson-Cooper/The West Australian

Michelle Leahy’s family put up a $100,000 reward in the hopes it will lead to the location of the mother.

“For our family, it’s absolutely gut wrenching — Michelle and I have three beautiful children who have grown up in a household where she’s been a very devoted, loving, nurturing, caring mother and really the centre of our family,” her husband, Murray Leahy, said.

“To not know that she’s safe is causing the four of us to here at home a level of pain that I didn’t think was possible to be able to feel.”

Lifeline: 13 11 14

Originally published on The West Australian

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