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Source: ONE News
Human remains discovered in notorious Belanglo State Forest are
reportedly those of a woman, raising hopes of closure for some
families with missing loved ones.
Police intensified their search of bushland in the NSW Southern
Highlands today while the bones discovered by trail bike riders
were moved to Sydney for forensic analysis.
Both the Seven and Ten networks reported the remains were those of
a woman but police media and local police contacted were unable to
confirm the reports.
Detectives also could not confirm whether the bones and a skull
could be linked to infamous serial killer Ivan Milat or to the
disappearance of wealthy housewife Kerry Whelan.
Milat, a former road worker currently serving seven life terms for
the murder of seven young backpackers, dumped the bodies of his
victims in the same forest during the early 1990s.
Whelan, whose body has never been found, was kidnapped and
murdered by Bruce Burrell, who had a property near the
forest.
Burrell was also convicted of murdering wealthy South Coogee widow
Dorothy Davis, whose body has also never been found.
Acting Superintendent Evan Quarmby refused to speculate on likely
connections with any criminal or missing person cases.
The remains, discovered near a fire trail, have been sent for
scientific analysis and will be examined by a forensic
anthropologist.
"As our investigation proceeds and as we get evidence back from
the experts in relation to sex, age and how long the body's been
there, that will allow us to narrow down some of those inquiries,"
Quarmby said.
Meanwhile, police continue to scour the dense forest for further
evidence.
Specialist search coordinators arrived at the scene today to help
widen the search area.
The remains were found on the edge of an area previously combed by
police during "historical" investigations, Quarmby said, without
specifying the Milat case.
Records of that search were being examined to help coordinate the
current search, he said.
"At this stage we have recovered a large amount of bones," he told
reporters outside Bowral police station.
"There was a skull. And numerous other bones have been located with
the skull and in that vicinity."
He refused to confirm reports that a clump of hair was also found
at the scene.
Quarmby said the families of some missing persons had contacted
police.
Local detectives, State Crime Command's homicide squad, forensic
specialists and regional officers are now involved in the
case.
The searches of Belanglo State Forest will continue until at least
Wednesday.
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