In a case that has gripped the nation with mounting dread, South Australia Police have officially declared a major crime investigation into the disappearance of 32-year-old mother-of-two Trisha Graf, after chilling details from the scene — a smashed car and abandoned thongs — left her partner convinced the worst had come to pass.

Trisha Graf was reported missing in late December 2025 from the remote opal mining town of Andamooka. Her vehicle was discovered wrecked on an isolated outback track several kilometres from home, with visible damage suggesting a violent impact. Most hauntingly, a pair of thongs — believed to be hers — were found abandoned nearby, alongside scattered personal items that painted a picture of sudden chaos.

Graf’s partner, upon arriving at the scene with police, took one look and reportedly collapsed in grief. “That was the moment he knew,” a family friend told reporters. “The smashed car, the thongs just left there — it didn’t look like an accident. He said straight away, ‘Something terrible has happened to her.’”

In an urgent update issued today, Major Crime Investigation Section detectives confirmed the escalation to a major crime probe. “The condition of the vehicle and items at the scene raise grave concerns,” Superintendent Des Fielke said. “We are treating this as suspicious and leaving no stone unturned.”

Early findings inside the abandoned car have prompted particular alarm: traces of blood, signs of a struggle, and belongings indicating Graf did not leave voluntarily. Her phone remains offline, bank accounts untouched, and no withdrawals or communications since her disappearance — all “completely out of character” for the devoted mother.

Andamooka, a small community of around 300 in the harsh outback, has been rocked. Graf was known as a loving parent and active local, with no known enemies or reasons to flee. Neighbours reported nothing unusual prior, heightening the mystery.

Search efforts — involving drones, dogs, and ground teams — continue across vast terrain, but challenging weather and remoteness complicate progress. Community vigils have formed, with residents describing Graf as “the heart of her family.”

The declaration of a major crime has intensified fears of foul play, with police appealing for anyone who travelled the track or saw the vehicle to come forward. “One look at the scene told us this wasn’t routine,” an officer said off-record.

For Graf’s partner and two young children, the abandoned thongs and wrecked car symbolise a nightmare made real. As investigations deepen, the outback holds its secrets — but the community prays for answers, and for Trisha.