Man charged with WA cold case murder

A man has been charged with murder and a Perth industrial site is being searched as part of a cold case investigation into the disappearance of a young mother.

Rebecca Anne Delalande, 23, vanished in November 2001, with her family believing she had simply moved interstate.

Homicide squad detectives charged a 45-year-old man from Rockingham on Friday night with murder.

It took 16 years for Ms Delalande's family to realise she hadn't simply moved away and may have been "the victim of a serious crime".

The mother of a six-year-old boy had infrequent contact with her family, who believed she had moved to the eastern states to start a new life, police said previously.

Her son was raised by other family members.

A search began at a Bayswater industrial site on Friday following information from the public.

Detectives became aware of Ms Delalande's disappearance in late 2017 as they were investigating an unrelated matter.

"We would like to thank community members for coming forward and assisting with this investigation," cold case homicide squad Detective Senior Sergeant Craig Stephen said in a statement on Saturday.

"News of Rebecca's disappearance has clearly been distressing for her family and friends, and we are committed to resolving this matter.

"Rebecca was in infrequent contact with her family prior to her disappearance, and they had formed the belief that she had relocated to the eastern states."

Ms Delalande was last seen at a property at Seville Grove.

The man charged with her murder is due to appear before the Perth Magistrates Court on Saturday.