Missing Queenstown woman Erika Rodrigues Coelho: Family ‘devastated’ with no answers as search paused, police keep an ‘open mind’
Police in New Zealand have paused the physical search for missing Brazilian woman Erika Rodrigues Coelho, who disappeared in Queenstown on September 18. Her family has expressed deep distress over the lack of evidence and the suspension of the search efforts.
Why it matters
The case highlights the emotional toll on families of missing persons and the procedural challenges faced by authorities in international missing person investigations.
Brazilian woman Erika Rodrigues Coelho, 47, has been missing from Queenstown since September 18.
The family of missing Queenstown woman Erika Rodrigues Coelho say they have been left “devastated” and with no answers after police paused the search for the 47-year-old almost three weeks after she disappeared.
Erika has not been seen or heard from since September 18.
Police said the investigation remained active despite the physical search being paused and that they are “keeping an open mind” as to what occurred.
Her older brother, Alexandre Coelho, told the Herald the hardest part for the family was having no indication of what might have happened to her.
He said even a small piece of evidence pointing to what might have happened would give the family some direction.
The family had considered sending someone to New Zealand, but Alexandre questioned what they could do once they arrived.
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