MISSING 73-YEAR-OLD GRANDMOTHER JANET KNIGHT FOUND DEAD AFTER DISAPPEARING DURING MORNING WALK
Janet Knight, who was living with dementia, vanished from her Melbourne home on Sunday morning. Her body was discovered in water at Avondale Heights after a four-day search, police confirmed.
A SEARCH ENDS IN HEARTBREAK
A 73-year-old Melbourne grandmother has been found dead after disappearing during a morning walk, bringing a tragic end to an urgent search that had lasted several days.
Janet Knight, from Keilor East, was reported missing after leaving her home early on Sunday, October 25, 2026. Her disappearance prompted concern from her family and Victoria Police, particularly because she was living with dementia and had gone out without several belongings she would normally take with her.
On Wednesday afternoon, October 28, a body was found in water near Riviera Road in Avondale Heights, northwest of Melbourne.
Victoria Police later confirmed that the body had been identified as Janet. Officers said her dєatᩚh was not being treated as suspicious.
HER DISAPPEARANCE WAS OUT OF CHARACTER
Janet was last seen on CCTV walking along Hoffmans Road towards Keilor Road in Niddrie at approximately 7:38 a.m. on Sunday.
Earlier footage showed her leaving her home on Steele Creek Drive at around 6:57 a.m.
Her family became increasingly concerned when they discovered that she had left without her mobile phone, wallet or Fitbit. Her daughter, Nicole, said this was unusual because Janet regularly enjoyed walking and generally took her Fitbit with her.
Although Janet had been diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of dementia that affected her ability to communicate, her family said her memory had not been as severely affected.
Nicole explained that her mother could often know what she wanted to say but struggle to find the words to express it.
POLICE FEARED FOR HER SAFETY AS SEARCH CONTINUED
Victoria Police and Janet’s family were particularly concerned about the cold, wet weather and the possibility that flooded walking tracks could pose a danger.
Search efforts focused on areas around Niddrie, Keilor East and nearby waterways, including routes Janet was known to enjoy.
Police had also appealed to residents to check CCTV and dashcam footage for any information that might help locate her.
Before Janet was found, her daughter made an emotional public appeal, asking her mother to seek help from anyone she encountered and reminding her that her family was waiting for her at home.
The family’s hope that Janet would return safely was ultimately met with devastating news.
FAMILY AND COMMUNITY LEFT GRIEVING
Janet’s disappearance drew attention from local residents and the wider public as people followed the search and hoped for a safe outcome.
Police expressed their thoughts for the family following the discovery. The circumstances of Janet’s dєatᩚh have not been fully detailed in the reports available, and authorities have not announced a confirmed cause of dєatᩚh.
The decision not to treat the dєatᩚh as suspicious indicates that police do not currently suspect foul play, although any further findings will depend on the relevant enquiries.
A TRAGIC REMINDER OF THE VULNERABILITY OF MISSING PEOPLE
For Janet’s family, the days between her disappearance and the discovery of her body were filled with uncertainty and fear.
She had been a regular walker who knew the local area, but her dementia diagnosis and the severe weather heightened concerns for her welfare.
Her dєatᩚh has brought the search to an end, but leaves her loved ones facing an immeasurable loss.
Janet Knight was 73. She was a mother and grandmother whose family had desperately hoped to bring her home safely. May her loved ones find strength and comfort as they grieve.
