By Jane Luscombe
The mother of missing Auckland woman Carmen Thomas has been reunited with her grandson, and she says the little boy needs his mum back.
Carmen was reported missing on July the 13th, and her mother Teresa Scott has flown to New Zealand from South Africa to help police with their investigation.
Teresa Scott's time in New Zealand is proving bitter-sweet. She's met her 5-year-old grandson for the first time since he was a baby.
But she's only here because her daughter has disappeared.
“Really just here to help try and find my daughter if she's out there,” says Teresa Scott.
Carmen Thomas was last in touch with her mum nine weeks ago, when she sent an email saying she'd been ill.
“We had a bit of an upside down relationship,” says Teresa.
All she wants now is to know that her daughter is safe.
“Her son misses her and needs to see his mum,” says Teresa.
The 32-year-old, who has a degree in marketing, had recently started working as an escort.
The police are keeping an open mind about what has happened, but say it's looking increasingly sinister. Scott doesn't want to think about that.
“I can't discuss that right now, sorry. I'm sorry,” Teresa said while fighting back tears.
In the latest developments, the police have issued a photo of Thomas's distinctive turquoise handbag and would like to hear from anyone who has seen it.
It's been a month since the last confirmed sighting of Carmen Thomas. The police say they've still got hundreds of hours of security camera footage to work through but admit her disappearance is a big mystery.
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