The disappearance of Fiona Pender, who has been missing for almost 29 years, has been upgraded to a murder investigation.
Ms Pender, a former model, was seven months pregnant when she disappeared in 1996.
She was last seen at about 06:00 local time on the morning of 23 August, at her flat on Church Street in Tullamore, County Offaly.
Gardaí (Irish police) commenced searches in an open area close to Killeigh, County Offaly, on Monday.
The area of land will be searched and subject to excavation, technical and forensic examinations over the coming days.
This is the first time gardaí have described the case as a murder investigation.
There has been a “sustained investigation” over the past 28 years, during which “significant enquiries” have been carried out to establish Ms Pender’s whereabouts, gardaí said on Monday.
“Over the course of this investigation, the investigation team have discovered and collated thousands of documents/reports, taken in excess of 300 statements of evidence and retained a number of exhibits.”
To date five people have been arrested and detained in connection with this investigation.
“No person has been brought to justice for the disappearance and murder of Fiona at this time,” a gardaí spokesperson added.
Ms Pender was described as being 5’5″ in height, with long blonde hair. She was wearing bright coloured clothing and white leggings when she went missing.
She had spent the day before her disappearance shopping with her mother in Tullamore and was said to have been in good form and looking forward to the birth of her baby.
Her remains have never been located.
