Updated June 12, 2026 — 11:04am,first published June 12, 2026 — 12:16amA 33-year-old man accused of murder will remain behind bars while detectives search for the body of a woman allegedly kidnapped from Sydney’s north-western suburbs earlier this week.Ante Ivan Popovic, 33, did not apply for bail when appearing in court on Friday morning, one day after police arrested him on a fire trail through dense bushland on the NSW South Coast. He was charged with the murder of a 58-year-old woman who has been missing since Monday afternoon, after detectives raided a property near Jervis Bay on Thursday afternoon.The woman was last seen leaving home on Monday, after telling her family she was visiting a relative in Winston Hills. Her car was found on Dodson Crescent, Winston Hills on Tuesday morning, leading detectives to establish Strike Force Dizek to investigate the woman’s disappearance.Popovic was arrested while sitting in a white Hilux more than 200 kilometres from Winston Hills on Thursday afternoon, and spent the night at Nowra Police Station ahead of his bail hearing on Friday.He appeared in court wearing jeans and a T-shirt, only speaking during the hearing to confirm his identity. Solicitor Metin Ozmen, representing Popovic, made no application for his release.Popovic’s matter is expected to be next heard in Parramatta Local Court on August 13 for a brief service mention.Detectives have combed through land from Winston Hills to the South Coast in their search for the body of the 58-year-old. Police hope to narrow down the search area on Friday as they make further inquiries that they hope will lead them to the woman.Parramatta Police Area Command Superintendent Barry Vincent is expected to provide an update on the investigation on Friday afternoon.Be the first to know when major news happens. Sign up for breaking news alerts on email or turn on notifications in the app.Sarah McPhee is the Overnight Homepage Editor for The Sydney Morning Herald.Connect via email.Daniel Lo Surdo is a breaking news reporter for The Sydney Morning Herald. He previously helmed the national news live blog for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age.Connect via email.From our partners