Human remains found under the family home of missing Victoria man Daniel O’Keeffe

THE family of Daniel O’Keeffe, who has been missing since 2011, believe remains found under the family home are his.

HUMAN remains have been found underneath the family home of a man that has been missing since 2011.

Daniel O’Keeffe hasn’t been seen since July 15, 2011 and his family have never given up looking for him — or given up hope that he could still be alive.

Victoria Police have confirmed they are at an address in Highton, Geelong. The Herald Sun reported Daniel’s father Des O’Keeffe found the bones early this afternoon.

The family believe the bones belong to Daniel, who was 24 when he went missing.

A crime scene has now been set up at the property. Police have said the bones appear to be those of an adult but dna testing would be needed to officially confirm it was Mr O’Keeffe.

Late this afternoon sister Loren O’Keeffe posted on the Facebook page she set up to help find Daniel the family believed the remains were his.

“It is with heavy hearts that the family and friends of Dan O’Keeffe, update this page to share that Dan’s remains were discovered earlier today ...

“We ask that you keep our family in your thoughts as we navigate this process and that our privacy be respected.”

Daniel O'Keeffe.

She said not all family members were aware the remains had been found when news broke in the media.

The online message went onto say they had “united the community” during their search for Daniel.

“None of this has been in vain, and that’s all thanks to you.”

In an interview with news.com.au last year, his sister Loren O’ Keeffe told of the devastation and heartache her family had endured not knowing where her brother was.

“Mum said it’s like having your guts ripped out. It’s bizarre, it’s excruciating, it’s torture. If it’s raining I think, ‘Is Dan safe? Is he under cover? Is he dry? Is he warm? Has he eaten?’ There are so many unknowns it can drive you insane.”

Mr O’Keeffe had been suffering from depression and anxiety. Nothing from the home was missing apart from his mobile phone.

Daniel O’Keeffe’s family never gave up searching for him.

Missing man Daniel O'Keeffe and his sister Loren.

After he vanished Loren O’Keeffe formed the Missing Persons Advocacy Network, which aimed to reunite people with their loved ones, and also gave practical advice about what to do when they first disappeared.

She told news.com.au last year her brother didn’t fit the criteria for urgent action by the police, even though she and her family were near hysterical with worry and fear when they couldn’t find him.

Has Daniel O’Keeffe been found?

Police at the Geelong home. Picture: Mike Dugdale

The Geelong home is being treated as a crime scene. Picture: Mike Dugdale

She got calls or emails from people every day about sightings of her brother.

She and her parents travelled throughout Australia looking for leads and checking sightings.

Last year Des and Lori O’Keeffe went to Darwin, clinging to the hope he could be alive and living rough in the outback.

The couple told the NT News: “It’s always been in the back of my mind that we haven’t (searched) in Darwin,” Mrs O’Keeffe said.

“I just get this feeling that wherever Dan is he must be somewhere warm. Somewhere that would basically allow him to live rough if he had to.”

The family though Daniel was alive until at least November of 2011 because of a possible sighting of him in a Queensland medical centre.

“We make lots of guesses (about what happened to Dan),” Lori said.

“We say Dan went out for a walk and didn’t come home. But we don’t even know if Dan did go for a walk.

“We don’t know if it was premeditated or spur of the moment when he was already out walking.

“We really don’t know anything.”

More to come

Lifeline (131 114), Mensline Australia (1300 789 978), Beyond Blue (1300 22 4636)

Originally published as Human remains found under the family home of missing Victoria man Daniel O’Keeffe