Tragic twist as a b0:dy believed to be Sandra Popovic is found in the Blue Mountains, after her son is charged with mu:rd3r following her disappearance after a meeting that raised alarm
Tragedy in Australia: Body of Missing Mother Believed Found in Blue Mountains After Son Charged with Kidnapping and Murder
A body has been found during the search for Sandra Popovic after Ante Popovic was charged with her alleged murder. Credit: Supplied
New South Wales Police have recently discovered a body in a remote bushland area of the Blue Mountains National Park. Authorities strongly believe it is Sandra Popovic, a 58-year-old mother who vanished mysteriously two weeks ago following a fateful meeting with her estranged son.
1. Body Discovered After Two Weeks of Frantic Searching
Sandra Popovich arrived about 5.10pm on Monday at John Curtin Reserve in Winston Hills. Credit: 7NEWS
Ante Ivan Popovic allegedly drove west into regional NSW about 5.14pm. Credit: 7NEWS
At approximately 2:30 PM last Sunday, joint search and rescue teams, alongside local police, located a body deep in dense bushland just off Mt Banks Road in the Blue Mountains National Park (west of Sydney). Although formal forensic identification and post-mortem examinations are still underway, senior detectives stated there is sufficient ground to believe the body is that of Sandra Popovic.
The 58-year-old had been missing under highly suspicious circumstances since June 8, after telling her family she was going to a meeting with her son. The discovery of the body comes shortly after police formally charged her 33-year-old son, Ante Ivan Popovic, with murder—despite the fact that the victim’s whereabouts remained unknown at the time the charges were laid.
NSW Police Superintendent Barry Vincent stated:
“Following the investigation, we were satisfied there was sufficient evidence for us to put the matter before the court [and charge the suspect], even before Sandra’s body had been located. When the family were informed of the arrest, they were obviously shocked and devastated.”
2. A Fateful Meeting at the Park and a Mysterious Disappearance
According to police investigation files, the tragedy began on the afternoon of Monday, June 8. Sandra Popovic informed family members that she was heading to John Curtin Reserve in Winston Hills, in Sydney’s northwest, to meet Ante Ivan Popovic.
It is understood that the mother and son had been estranged and out of contact for a long time. However, Ante had initiated the meeting to discuss personal matters, specifically regarding borrowing a sum of money. Upon analyzing the victim’s phone data, police discovered that communications directed toward Sandra prior to the meeting were “hostile in nature” and threatening.
Closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage around the Winston Hills area captured critical movements on that fateful day:
Before 4:00 PM: Ante Popovic’s white Toyota Hilux utility vehicle was seen circling streets near John Curtin Reserve suspiciously, appearing to scout the area.
5:10 PM: Sandra Popovic drove her personal car to the designated meeting spot at the park. This was the last captured image of the mother alive.
5:14 PM: Merely four minutes after Sandra arrived, Ante’s white Hilux was tracked driving west at high speed into regional New South Wales.
Sandra never returned home that night. At 9:30 AM the following morning (June 9), her abandoned car was found by residents sitting stranded on Dodson Crescent, not far from the meeting location.
3. The Flight and Arrest Deep in the Bush
Following the missing person report filed by the family, police immediately established a special strike force. Detectives determined that this was not a case of voluntary disappearance, but rather a severe case of kidnapping and homicide.
Utilizing advanced technical intelligence, authorities uncovered a crucial piece of evidence: after 5:14 PM on June 8, Sandra’s mobile phone remained active, but it was in the possession of her son as he fled west into regional NSW. Notably, tracking data indicated that when Ante later returned to the metropolitan area, his mother was no longer with him.
Following a relentless three-day manhunt, tactical police and criminal investigators cornered and arrested Ante Ivan Popovic on June 11. He was found sitting inside his white Toyota Hilux in a secluded area along the Parnell Fire Trail at Tomerong—a bushland area about 20 kilometers south of Nowra.
4. A Moral Collapse and the Grief of Those Left Behind
This shocking murder has sparked deep grief and public outrage within the local community. According to Superintendent Barry Vincent, Sandra Popovic was known as a hardworking, virtuous woman, a mother of several children, and the sole pillar of support caring for her elderly, ailing parents.
In stark contrast, her son Ante Ivan Popovic had long severed ties with the family, lived a transient lifestyle, and was a “well-known face” to local law enforcement due to his prior criminal record and anti-social behavior.
Timeline of Key Events in the Case
June 8 (5:10 PM): Sandra arrives at John Curtin Reserve to meet her son regarding money.
June 8 (5:14 PM): Suspect Ante flees west in a Hilux, taking his mother’s phone with him.
June 9 (9:30 AM): Police locate Sandra’s abandoned vehicle on Dodson Crescent.
June 11: Ante Popovic is arrested in the Tomerong bushland and charged with murder.
Sunday (2 weeks later): A body believed to be Sandra is found in the Blue Mountains.
Ante Ivan Popovic remains in strict custody after being refused bail, awaiting his upcoming court appearances. Following the discovery of the body, detectives are finalizing the post-mortem and crime scene examinations to submit a comprehensive report to the Coroner to establish the exact cause of death and solidify the maximum sentencing guidelines for the suspect.
