Major Crime detectives locate skeletal remains believed to be those of Robert Atkins during search in Mid North
Major Crime detectives believe human remains found in an abandoned home’s water tank in the Mid North are those of murder victim Robert Atkins.
Police & Courts
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Police have found skeletal remains they suspect are those of murder victim Robert Atkins in the Mid North of the state.
Protracted investigations by Major Crime detectives involved in Task Force Southern discovered the remains on Wednesday concealed in an old stone rainwater tank adjacent a disused house on a property on Peak Rd, Minvalara, southeast of Orroroo.
A large contingent of detectives and forensic officers are recovering the remains and other evidence at the scene, with DNA matching expected to confirm his identity in coming weeks.
Detectives have conducted at least a dozen major searches at various locations in the Mid North over the past two years as the exact location of the remains was slowly narrowed down during extensive investigations, which relied heavily on the analysis of mobile telephone location data.
The remains were removed from a water tank on the property, which has been abandoned for several years, at about 2pm.
“Throughout Task Force Southern, hundreds of charges have been laid against a large number of people but we still have the investigation continuing in respect to Jeff Mundy and Trevor King and we’ll continue to do anything that we can do to find them,” Major Crime chief Det Supt Bray said.
Task Force Southern was launched in December 2021 to probe the alleged murders of Mr Atkins, Jeff Mundy and Trevor King. It has so far resulted in 24 men and nine women being arrested in connection with 283 charges.
Police pumped water from the floor of the tank, about 4m deep, before the remains could be removed.
Det. Supt. Bray said the discovery came after the task force’s “relentless pursuit” to locate Mr Atkins’ body.
“I’m very proud of the work done by the Task Force Southern detectives,” he said.
“They’re really, really happy that they found him.
“It’s just so important for the family and with a lot of missing victims, it’s clear from talking with family, the recovery of the remains and giving them a dignified burial is massively important to them.
“That’s a really good thing. The more effort you put in, the more likelihood that you will get a result.”
Det Supt Bray said it was not clear if Mr Atkins was murdered at the property and that the surrounding area had been searched 12 times throughout the investigation.
Mr Atkins’ family has been notified of the discovery.
Det Supt Bray said detectives would continue to search the area for bullet cartridges and projectiles.
The property owners are not connected to any alleged offenders charged as part of Task Force Southern.
“They were just as shocked as anybody that remains were found here,” he said.
In April Major Crime detectives arrested and charged five people – including one female – in connection with the unlawful detention, brutal assaults and eventual murder of Mr Atkins.
One has been charged with his murder, while the remainder face multiple charges including unlawful detention, causing harm and procuring a person to cause harm.
The man charged with Mr Atkins’ murder is Sean Clive Phypers, 32, of Northfield.
The other accused are Cameron Lachlan Stuart, 33, of Christies Beach, Clinton Arthur Turvey, 43, of Adelaide, Mikhael Joseph Brereton, 32, of Christie Downs and a woman, 25, whose identity is suppressed.
The arrests were made following more than 15 months of intensive investigations into the three murders.
Mr Atkins, 29, was last seen alive on November 15, 2021, at the Harvey Norman store in Gepps Cross, with a man known to police.
Detectives believe the man took Mr Atkins to several areas around Port Pirie before he was eventually murdered near Orroroo.
Detectives believe he was led into bushland and shot with a .30 calibre pistol. While the pistol was not found, .38 calibre bullets and packaging were located.
Extensive searches have been conducted in the Mid North for the murder weapon, but it has not been recovered.
Following the arrest of Sean Phypers, The Advertiser revealed his parents were among a number of individuals being investigated by detectives searching for the pistol used in the shooting.
It was also revealed his father, Clive Raymond Phypers, had pleaded guilty to drug trafficking and serious firearms charges after Major Crime detectives dug up a cache of guns at his property at Booborowie, also in the Mid North.
While Task Force Southern was initially formed to investigate the three alleged murders, it had evolved into a much wider operation that had successfully dismantled several significant southern suburbs drug trafficking operations.
There have been 191 charges for trafficking methamphetamines, cannabis and fantasy, nine charges for unlawful detention and false imprisonment, nine charges for serious assaults and 12 charges for firearms possession and trafficking.
Major Crime investigations have revealed Mr Atkins was detained at locations including Christies Downs, North Plympton and Seaford between November 8 and 16 in 2020.
During that period he was subjected to a number of physical assaults and was last known to be alive on November 16, 2021.
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