Auckland woman Monica Reid found dead two days after she suddenly disappeared
The desperate search for a New Zealand woman has ended in tragedy, with the 26-year-old found dead two days after she was last seen.
Monica Reid was last seen wearing a purple or pink puffer jacket in the Auckland suburb of Te Atatū last Friday.
She was reported missing because police expressed ‘concerns for her welfare’.
Relatives, including Ms Reid’s sister Cecilia who flew home from Australia to meet her two brothers from Wellington and Hamilton, gathered to scour the city.
Her body was found on Sunday, with her aunt Rowena Yalland confirming her death in a Facebook post.
26-year-old Monica Reid, who was reported missing on Friday, was found dead on Sunday
“Monica was found deceased this afternoon,” the message said.
‘Thank you very much for sharing and your concern.
‘Keep your loved ones close.’
Ms Reid worked at the New Zealand Transport Agency/Waka Kotahi and studied urban planning.
Her boyfriend Shivneel Singh popped the question earlier this year and was planning to buy a house.
Francis Reid thanked police and their search units as he paid tribute to his ‘little’ sister.
“The efficiency, the thoroughness of their search and their communication through that process and what to expect was sensitive and incredibly amazing,” he said Stuff.
Ms Reid (pictured left) was engaged to Shivneel Singh and the couple wanted to buy a house together
“I want to remember Mon as a vibrant, gentle soul who had a deep sense of empathy for people, animals and the world,” Mr Reid said, saying his sister wanted to make the world a “better place”.
‘I miss everything about her and I wish we could all have done more for her.
“She had a great belly laugh and cared deeply, and that was unique to her.”
He also described Monica as a ray of sunshine and a sensitive soul who always put others before herself.
After studying at Victoria University in Wellington, Ms Reid moved to Auckland with her boyfriend Singh.
The couple got engaged in January and started looking for a house.
“We were very happy that Mon was getting married,” Mr. Reid said.
He added that his parents Nicholas and Gabrielle and his six other siblings “absolutely love Shiv.”
“He’s a great guy; his family are great people too,” Mr Reid said.
‘The sadness is that we have gotten to know them much better over the past three days.
Francis Reid (pictured) described his sister Monica as a bubbly and very caring person with a memorable laugh
Mr Reid said the family knew his sister had mental health problems.
“She never let the mask slip,” he said.
“You Google her and see how beautiful and smart she is, but she has a tragic ending. I don’t want this to happen to anyone else.’
He urged families with mental health problems to always seek help when they need it, and not to view it as a “weakness” or think it reflects a “lack of love.”
“Monica knew she was loved,” Mr. Reid said.