Gardaí have upgraded the investigation into the disappearance of Fiona Pender to a murder investigation.
The 25-year-old woman went missing in Co Offaly almost 29 years ago.
This is the first time gardaí have described the case as a murder investigation.
To date no one has been charged in connection with Fiona Pender’s disappearance and her remains have never been found.
Gardaí said today they have commenced searches in an area close to Killeigh in Co Offaly. The land will be subject to excavation and a technical and forensic examination.
Gardaí expect to be in the area for a number of days.
Ms Pender was last seen at around 6am on the morning of Friday 23 August 1996 at her flat on Church Street in Tullamore.
She was 25 years old and seven months pregnant at the time she went missing, and had spent the day before her disappearance shopping for baby clothes with her mother in Tullamore.
She was said to have been in good form and was looking forward to the birth of her baby.
Ms Pender was wearing bright-coloured clothing and white leggings and was described as being 1.65m (5’5”) in height with long blonde hair.
Numerous extensive searches have taken place and several appeals for information have been made over the years.
Gardaí said that over the 28-year investigation, thousands of documents and reports have been gathered and over 300 statements have been taken.
