Dr. Promila Mehta-Paul (Credit: CBS)
MUNSTER, Ind. (CBS/WBBM) – The search continues for a missing 70-year-old northwest Indiana ophthalmologist, who disappeared 10 days ago.
As WBBM Newsradio 780’s Steve Miller reports, Dr. Promila Mehta-Paul, 70, was last seen on Monday of last week. Police news tell Newsradio 780 they have received 100 tips and her missing 2001 gold Toyota RAV 4 may hold the key to the case.
LISTEN: Newsradio 780′s Steve Miller reports
It might bear either an Indiana or California license plate.
Police are also sifting through computer equipment taken from Mehta-Paul’s home.
“Basically it is very devastating for the whole family,” her ex-husband, Shashi Paul said in a phone interview on Wednesday. “I’m hopeful no harm has come to her.”
Shashi Paul acknowledged that he and his ex-wife went through a messy multimillion dollar divorce for nearly two decades, including charges of physical abuse by him.
“As a father, I’m worried about my sons having to deal with the disappearance of their mother,” he said. “For the sake of the investigation, I will not reveal the nature of my cooperation with the police.”
Munster Police Chief Stephen Scheckel acknowledged that Mehta-Paul’s relationship with her ex-husband has been a part of the investigation. As for whether police have any suspects in her disappearance, Scheckel said police were “keeping all our options open.”
Earlier Wednesday, police searched a pond called Clay Hole Lake, and a, creek and golf course in Munster, about a two blocks away from Mehta-Paul’s home, to make sure they didn’t miss anything on their first probe of the rough terrain.
Mehta-Paul was last seen on March 21 by workers at her eye clinic in Highland, Ind.
On Tuesday, police released a new image showing Mehta-Paul making a deposit at a First Financial Bank branch in Highland, also on March 21. Her missing vehicle is in the background.
The following day, Mehta-Paul uncharacteristically failed to show up for appointments. She has not been seen since.
Mehta-Paul is of Indian descent with dark hair and dark eyes, standing 5 feet 1 inch tall and weighing about 130 pounds.
Anyone with information about where Mehta-Paul is or anyone who may have seen her since March 21 is asked to call the Munster Police Department at (219) 836-6600 or the Highland Police Department at (219) 838-3181.
