A man has appeared in court charged with the murder of youth worker Emma Faulds.
Ross Willox, 39, appeared in private at Ayr Sheriff Court and made no plea or declaration.
Willox, of Monkton, Ayrshire, is also alleged to have attempted to defeat the ends of justice.
Emma, 39, of Kilmarnock, was last seen on April 28 but her body has yet to be found.
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She was last seen in the Monkton area around 9.10pm prompting a police appeal to trace her.
Police had sealed off a property in the village earlier this week while investigating her disappearance.
Forensics officers were seen at the scene while officers blocked the entry to the street.
Family and friends have rallied to search for her and Scots popstar Lewis Capaldi has offered his support.
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Emma, a former police officer, worked for the Kibble Education and Care Centre, a Paisley-based charity that works with troubled youngsters.
She had worked with the group for 12 years.
Willox was remanded in custody and is due to appear in the dock again within the next eight days.
