Police have been searching for her son, Jeremy Robertson, for two weeks in connection with her death.<\/p>\n
Gilbert-Palmer\u2019s niece, Barbara Evans, told RNZ her aunty, who she called Narnie, would regularly message her talking about her son and his mental health. Evans, who was adopted at birth, reconnected with Gilbert-Palmer and her grandparents about 30 years ago.<\/p>\n
Evans said it appeared Robertson\u2019s behaviour was \u201cescalating\u201d in the weeks before Gilbert-Palmer\u2019s death.<\/p>\n
Evans shared a series of messages she exchanged with Gilbert-Palmer.<\/p>\n
On October 8, a week before she died, Gilbert-Palmer messaged Evans and said \u201cI tell u wat, he was better when he was on the drugs and vape, more chilled out. More aggressive now. [sic]\u201d<\/p>\n
She said her son was \u201cdead against drugs now\u201d.<\/p>\n
The following day, Gilbert-Palmer said her son \u201cHas been nice for one day, now back to wat he was. [sic]\u201d<\/p>\n
In another message she wrote Robertson \u201ccan be so nasty at times\u201d.<\/p>\n
Gilbert-Palmer said she wished her niece didn\u2019t live so far away so she could go and spend a few days with her.<\/p>\n
Later that evening she messaged that he had \u201csettled down\u201d.<\/p>\n
Then, on October 12, Gilbert-Palmer told Evans that her son was going to Rotorua by bus on October 15.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe decided on his own, to much stuff going on down here, having a go at people verbally. [sic]\u201d<\/p>\n
Gibert-Palmer said she would \u201cfill in\u201d her niece once Robertson was gone. It was the last time Evans heard from her.<\/p>\n
In September, Gilbert-Palmer told her niece he was back home living with her as there was \u201cnowhere for him to go\u201d.<\/p>\n
He\u2019d previously stayed in Feilding but was \u201crude\u201d to people there and \u201cout does his stay\u201d, she said.<\/p>\n
Evans said she was \u201cabsolutely devastated\u201d when she heard her aunt was dead.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was going down on the Monday after he\u2019d left. I was intending to go down and spend some time with her.\u201d<\/p>\n
She wanted to know what involvement mental health services had with Robertson.<\/p>\n
Asked if she had any message for him, she said: \u201cCome home and get some help\u201d.<\/p>\n
Evans said her aunt \u201csacrificed years of her life\u201d for her son.<\/p>\n
She described Gilbert-Palmer as \u201cquirky\u201d, especially when it came to her lipstick.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe loved keeping her home, gardens and lawns neat and tidy. She loved wearing bright colours and her footwear matched her lippie.\u201d<\/p>\n
One of Gilbert-Palmer\u2019s cousins, Andrea Randell Todd, who lives in the US, was recently in New Zealand on holiday for her mother\u2019s 100th. She said Gilbert-Palmer was invited to the celebrations but was unable to attend.<\/p>\n
Randell Todd said after she arrived in New Zealand, her cousin told her that Robertson had been \u201cvery, very nasty\u201d. Gilbert-Palmer had also told her that he\u2019d said he was going to Rotorua.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe couldn\u2019t wait for him to go,\u201d Randell Todd said.<\/p>\n
Detective Senior Sergeant Dave Thompson said in a statement to RNZ on Monday that police were continuing to appeal for information regarding Robertson\u2019s whereabouts.<\/p>\n
\u201cRobertson should not be approached if seen \u2013 we are asking instead that people call 111 immediately to advise us, quoting file number 251015\/6286.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe would like to thank those people who have contacted us regarding possible sightings of Robertson. Police are following up on all information received but as yet no information received has resulted in a substantiated sighting of Robertson.\u201d<\/p>\n
In response to questions from RNZ, Health New Zealand\u2019s national director of mental health and addictions enhancement Phil Grady said due to privacy considerations and the active nature of the police inquiry, he was limited in what he could say.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe can confirm we are assisting the police investigation and continue to offer support to all those affected by this incident.\u201d<\/p>\n