Police uncover further human remains in Mossman Gorge after woman’s disappearance
Police have made another grim discovery during a search for what is suspected to be a swimmer that went missing in January at a popular Far North waterhole.
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Further human remains have been discovered by police divers at a popular Far North waterhole on Friday as police continue to investigate the disappearance of a woman who went missing in waters at Mossman Gorge earlier this year.
Detectives from Mossman Criminal Investigation Branch are continuing investigations to identify skeletal remains discovered in Mossman Gorge last week.
Police were alerted to what appeared to be human bones at the gorge by a member of the public on August 22.
The breakthrough came on August 28 and 29 when divers conducted a further search on the area and recovered further bones.
Queensland Police have confirmed the search had concluded as no further remains had been located, however forensic testing is underway to determine the origin of the remains.
It is not yet known if the remains belong to a Victorian woman who disappeared while swimming at Mossman Gorge in January this year.
Investigations are continuing including the examination of currently missing person files.
Despite the investigation, Mossman Gorge remains open to the public.
Earlier it was reported police were waiting on DNA evidence to confirm if human remains found at Mossman Gorge match those of a woman who was reported missing while swimming in the area in January after she failed to resurface.
Mossman Police Officer in Charge Seargent Matthew Smith confirmed police divers were continuing to search the area for further evidence.
“We’ve found nothing more today. It’s a waiting game now to see if there’s a DNA match with a family member,” Sgt Smith said.
He said it was difficult to determine how long it would take for the DNA results to come back.
“It could be tomorrow, it could be a month from now, we don’t know at this stage,” he said.
Despite the police investigation, a spokeswoman from the Mossman Gorge Cultural Centre confirmed the park would remain open however swimming in the area was discouraged.
“We’re still open to the general public. It (swimming) is just dangerous and we never recommend it,” the spokeswoman said.
Earlier police confirmed human remains found in the Gorge could belong to the woman who went missing in January, police have confirmed. A Victorian woman who was swimming at Mossman Gorge was reported missing on January 6 after she failed to resurface.
After a 10-day search and rescue operation, her body was not recovered.
Police divers recovered the human remains, believed to belong to the missing woman after a member of the public alerted police to a tibia bone in the gorge.
Sgt Smith confirmed the bone was found downstream from the popular waterhole where the woman was reportedly swimming.
“It’s a reasonable assumption that it may be related to the missing person but we have to wait on DNA testing to establish that,” He said.
Sgt Smith said police divers were operating at the gorge for a further sweep of the area, however the park would still be open to tourists and members of the public.
“I think in general, people aren’t supposed to swim in the gorge. Signs indicate they discourage people from swimming, especially depending on the weather conditions, but police will be around,” he said.
Sgt Smith said if the bone belonged to the missing woman, it may bring some comfort for loved ones.
“Hopefully it provides closure to the family of the missing person. We’re all hopeful that it’s her,” he said.
Police divers returned to the site on Tuesday morning for further examination of the area.
Forensic procedures and investigations are ongoing to establish the origin of the remains.
Originally published as Police uncover further human remains in Mossman Gorge after woman’s disappearance
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