Police maintain the investigation into the father-of-two’s disappearance remains ongoing, despite the search being suspended on Friday.

A spokesman said yesterday the police position had not changed from Friday, when after several days of searching an area around Glendambo, no trace of the 28-year-old was discovered.

Glendambo became the focus of the investigation when Mr Richards’ dog was discovered alive, but malnourished, south east of the remote community on July 10.

Mr Richards was last seen near Woomera on June 21 and last made contact with family members near Coober Pedy on June 20 as he made his way from Darwin to Ballarat down the Stuart Highway.

Now almost a month later, police, friends and family remain baffled at his disappearance.

Mr Richards’ mother, brother, partner and best mate are currently based at the Pimba Roadhouse – setting out each day to search the surrounding desert for their loved one.

The group say they “won’t give up” until he’s found and have a huge groundswell of support from the Ballarat community.

Friends back in Ballarat have established an online search fund so the team in the outback can afford accommodation, food and fuel as they search for their missing loved one.

Police earlier said searching an area as large as 4500 square kilometres with a low-flying plane was extremely difficult.

“You’ve got to understand, this is like trying to find a needle in a haystack,” a spokesperson said.

A fund has been established to help finance friends and family searching in the outback.

Mr Richards was driving a blue Toyota Hilux ute with a cage on the back.

To donate to the search fund, visit www.gofundme.com/68cvs.