Missing grandmother Yvonne Whear's body identified in Tweed Valley stock dip

A body found in a Tweed Valley stock dip has been identified as Yvonne Whear, a 73-year-old grandmother who had been missing for eight months.

The body was discovered last Monday, partially submerged in a disused livestock dip at Terragon, 20 kilometres south of Murwillumbah. NSW Police has formed a taskforce to investigate her death, which is being treated as a homicide.

Yvonne Whear was last seen driving near Murwillumbah on February 19. Her gold Ford Escape SUV was found in the Rous River near Dulguigan on September 12, sparking grave fears about her welfare.

A pair of trail bike riders found her body while riding on a track through a property at Kyogle Road, Terragon about 11:20am on October 5. The body was badly decomposed and submerged in a tank used to treat livestock for ticks and other parasites.

NSW Police Acting Superintendent Matt Zimmer said a strike force had been formed to investigate her death. "We are now treating her death as a homicide," he said.

"The news of Yvonne's death in these circumstances is tragic. Her family is devastated."

"We spoke to her family a short time ago and they have described this loss as unimaginable grief."

Acting Superintendent Zimmer said Ms Whear's body was found in a "very isolated" location, about 300 metres down an overgrown fire trail.

"It's about 300 metres down an overgrown fire trail," he said. "The fact that Yvonne's been missing for the last eight months, we're very interested in that location."

"Particularly people that might have frequented that location between February 19 and when her body was located last Monday."

Acting Superintendent Zimmer said there was nothing to indicate Ms Whear's death was linked to any other unsolved murder or missing persons cases.

"At this point in time, there is no indication and no evidence to indicate there is any involvement of a serial offender," he said.

"Obviously, this incident has caused this community a lot of alarm. It's caused them distress."

"But on the information we have, there is no broader threat to the community."

Acting Superintendent Zimmer said Ms Whear was a mother of three, grandmother of 10, and great-grandmother of one child.

"I'm confident there have [been] conversations over the past eight months around that community as to what has occurred and who it involved," he said.

"Now is the time for those people to come forward. Consider the family's circumstances here, this 73-year-old lady with no criminal history … do the right thing for your community to help this grieving family."