¶ POLICE investigating the 1980 disappearance of Lisa Marie Mott are seeking to identify the owner of an abandoned yellow Holden panel van following new information received from the public.
Cold Case investigators, assisted by Emergency Operations Unit staff and WA Police Academy recruits, oversaw a 25-person grid-search of an area of bushland off Hoddell Road on Tuesday where the van was abandoned.
While the vehicle was previously reported to police and investigated in 1996, information received from the public during deployment of a mobile police facility in Collie last November has led to its reinvestigation.
“We are seeking anyone with information in relation to this vehicle to come forward to police,” Detective Sergeant Greg Dowding said. 
“We want to identify the owner.
“We want to know how long it has been here and most importantly we want to determine whether it is relevant to Lisa’s disappearance.”
Police are searching for number plates and other components that could potentially identify the owner.
Detective Sergeant Dowding said a number of community members had approached police during last year’s deployment.
“They provided us further information about this abandoned Holden panel van,” he said.
However, subsequent investigations were unable to identify the owner.
“I’d ask if the person who abandoned that panel van would come forward,” Detective Sergeant Dowding said. “Just give us a reason so we know the history of it.”
Other searches will be conducted in Collie in the coming weeks as a direct result of information received from the community.
Lisa attended basketball courts in Throssell Street with a friend at about 6.45pm on October 30, 1980.
She went to a nearby pizza shop at about 8.45pm and started walking home about 9pm.
She was last seen by eye witnesses entering a yellow panel van, believed to be a Holden 1970 to 1978 model.
“There has been a strong response to every appeal for information we have made to the public to assist us with our investigation into Lisa’s disappearance,” Detective Sergeant Dowding said.
“It comes as no surprise that the WA community is so eager to help. It’s every parent’s worst nightmare to lose a child and spend decades without any explanation.
“I urge the public to come forward with whatever they know - big or small, it could be the key to our investigation.”
Anyone with information is urged or call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.