The family of a Sydney grandmother who disappeared nearly eight years ago are reliving their heartbreak after police discovered human remains believed to be hers in western Sydney.
Nadire Sensoy, 71, vanished from her Prospect home in December 2018, triggering years of investigations, public appeals, and extensive searches. On Thursday, NSW Police located human remains in a shallow grave near a creek bed off Powers Road in Seven Hills.
Authorities informed Ms Sensoy’s children shortly after the discovery. Police said the family experienced mixed emotions, finding some comfort in the possibility of finally locating their loved one while also being forced to revisit the trauma surrounding her disappearance.
The remains will undergo forensic testing to formally establish their identity. However, investigators say they are confident the remains belong to Ms Sensoy.
The grandmother had been living with her youngest son when she disappeared around December 6, 2018. She was reported missing five days later after a concerned neighbour contacted her daughter.
Police have previously alleged the case was linked to domestic violence. In 2023, a 47-year-old man was arrested in Wagga Wagga and charged with domestic violence murder, alleged to have occurred between December 6 and December 11, 2018. The matter remains before the courts.
Investigators described the case as a tragic event that has had a lasting impact on both the family and the wider community.
An inquest into Ms Sensoy’s death was opened in 2023 but was later suspended after new evidence emerged. Police say a standing reward of $350,000 remains available for information that could assist the ongoing investigation.
The discovery marks a significant breakthrough in one of western Sydney’s longest-running missing person cases.
