Police have confirmed a second sighting of missing Westport woman Leanne Ryall last Friday morning.
Someone who knew Ryall greeted her at the intersection of Queen and Bright streets at around 9.15am, said Sergeant Malcolm Lamont.
Ryall was heading towards Palmerston St, he said. She greeted the person who saw her and the person noticed nothing out of the ordinary.
A police media release on Monday said the 50-year-old had last been seen walking south along Cobden St towards Derby St at about 9am on Friday.
Lamont said the later sighting was reported on Saturday. The witness was able to describe what Ryall was wearing.
The person who saw her on Cobden St earlier was also someone who knew her.
Police were reviewing CCTV footage from the northern end of Palmerston St for any sign of Ryall.
Yesterday police checked abandoned and empty houses for sale at the northern end of town as that was where the two sightings were made, Lamont said. However, nothing was found.
He said many people had contacted police to ask if they could help but no one had reported any other sightings.
Ryall's partner had told police she was not a very mobile person and did not like to walk far, Lamont said.
"We understand she has weak ankles and generally doesn't walk far as she doesn't like walking on rough surfaces."
When her partner arrived at their Domett St home at 9am Friday to meet her, as arranged, she was not there. He became alarmed once he realised she was gone but her car was still there as this was unlike her, said Lamont, who did not know whether Ryall had left a note.
Ryall's partner had told police she had previously been under the care of a mental health doctor, Lamont said.
She had never gone missing for any period of time previously.
Her bank accounts had been untouched since Friday. There was also no indication that any larger sum of money had been withdrawn prior to her disappearance.
She had taken her cellphone, but it was turned off and had not been used since Friday, Lamont said. He did not think it was possible to establish whether a phone was deliberately switched off or whether the battery was flat.
Ryall's father and sisters, who live in other parts of the South Island, had heard nothing from her, he said.
Family, friends, firefighters and Westport Deep Sea Fishing School personnel spent Friday and Saturday searching for Ryall before calling police on Saturday night.
Police called out Land Search and Rescue on Sunday morning.
All up the search involved more than 50 people. They found nothing.
The search was suspended Sunday night and police later asked locals to check their own properties.
Ryall has two adult children and is assistant manager of Westport's St John Community Shop.
When last seen she was wearing three-quarter black leggings, possibly a short-sleeved top and green black-soled leather pumps, and carrying a black handbag. She is described as 160cm tall, of solid build with short wavy red/brown hair.
A Facebook page "Leanne Ryall please come home" has 619 members.
