The family of a missing Melbourne grandmother with dementia has made an emotional plea for her safe return after she disappeared without her phone or wallet.
Janet Knight, 73, was last seen walking along Hoffmans Rd towards Keilor Rd in Niddrie about 7.38am on Sunday.
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CCTV footage earlier captured her leaving her home on Steele Creek Dr in Keilor East about 6.57am.
Her disappearance has sparked grave concerns among police and family, particularly given her dementia diagnosis and the cold, wet weather.
“We are concerned with the river as well, with the wet weather, with flooding on some tracks,” Victoria Police Inspector Bonnie Heazlewood said.
Jenet Knight was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of dementia, said her daughter Nicole. Credit: Victoria Police
Heazlewood said Knight was fit, regularly went for walks and knew the local area well.
Her family said she had left home without her phone or wallet, which was “outside of her normal behaviour”.
Knight’s daughter Nicole said her mother would also normally wear her Fitbit when walking, but had left it behind this time.
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Knight has been diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of dementia that has affected her ability to communicate, although her memory has not been as severely impacted, according to Nicole.
“She will often know what she wants to say, but can’t actually get the words out,” Nicole said.
“She’s always been quite calm and accepting that this is the disease that she was dealt and is really understanding of that.”
Knight was seen leaving her home on Steele Creek Dr in Keilor East on Sunday morning. Credit: Victoria Police
Despite her diagnosis, walking has remained one of Knight’s favourite activities.
“She will walk rain, hail or shine as is proven by yesterday’s weather conditions and the Steel Creek is one of her favourite walks to go on,” Nicole said on Monday.
But Nicole described her mother’s disappearance as “totally out of the ordinary” and “very concerning”.
She last spoke to her mother about 4pm or 5pm on Saturday, recalling that she seemed “upbeat”.
Nicole discovered her mother was missing when she let herself into the family home and received no response after calling out to her.
She later found her mother’s phone upstairs.
Knight was seen walking along Hoffmans Rd towards Keilor Rd in Niddrie. Credit: Victoria Police
Nicole and her brother Chris said they were “pretty shaken up” by their mother’s disappearance.
In a heartbreaking message to her mother, Nicole urged her to seek help from anyone she encountered.
“We love you,” Nicole said.
“You can come home.
“Please reach out to anyone that you see walking past and tell them that you need help because you’ve got sons, daughters, grandkids and family that are all waiting and love you.”
Chris and Nicole Knight said they were “pretty shaken” by their mother’s disappearance. Credit: 7NEWS
Police said none of Knight’s belongings had been found, with searches continuing in areas surrounding Niddrie.
Knight is described as about 170cm tall, with a slim build and short strawberry-blonde hair.
She was last seen wearing a black hooded jacket, black pants and a light-blue beanie, and was carrying a plastic bag.
She is known to frequent the Steele Creek Trail towards Maribyrnong.
Anyone who sees Knight or has information about her whereabouts is urged to contact police.
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