Lateesha Nolan: Riverbank search after bone identified as Malcolm Naden’s murdered cousin
UPDATE: DNA has confirmed a bone found on the banks of the Macquarie River, south of Dubbo, belongs to the mother-of-four murdered by Malcolm Naden, with her distraught family saying the find brings some relief.
News
Don't miss out on the headlines from News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
AN OLD bone belonging to murder victim Lateesha Nolan has sparked a search along the banks of the Macquarie River for her final resting place.
Ms Nolan, a mother-of-four, was murdered by her cousin Malcolm Naden in 2005 but the body of the 24-year-old was never found.
Naden was convicted in 2012 of her murder — and that of Kristy Scholes, 24 — after spending seven years on the run. He was sentenced to life without parole.
Ms Nolan’s father, Mick, said he was heading to the site today.
Lateesha Nolan’s aunt, Margaret Walker, broke down as she spoke of the pain of losing her niece.
“It was really emotional and hard to hear but it was also just a big relief, especially for my sister,” she said.
“She is still very vulnerable right now and is just trying to make sure the kids are alright.
“Hopefully we can finally lay her to rest and that will give our family some peace.
“Not knowing after all these years has been the hardest part of it all.”
Searches were conducted in the area in 2005 and 2012. The latest has been reignited by the discovery of a piece of bone by a member of the public near Butlers Falls, south of Dubbo.
Homicide Squad Commander, Detective Superintendent Mick Willing, said detectives were determined to find Lateesha’s remains.
“We now know we are looking at the right spot, which is near the 2012 excavation, but changes to the terrain have meant this area was unexposed at that time,” Det Supt Willing said.
“The loss of a loved one is never easy to deal with, but the grief can be even harder to overcome when you can’t lay them to rest.
“For more than a decade investigators have been following every line of inquiry in hope of ending the family’s search for answers.
“We hope we will soon be able allow them to properly — and respectfully — say goodbye.”
OTHER NEWS: DICK SMITH BACKS PAULINE HANSON OVER IMMIGRATION
Mr Peet said he just wants to find his daughter and give her a proper burial.
Mr Peet, who lives in Bundaberg where he has a memorial garden for Lateesha, is travelling down to Dubbo as police search for her body.
“I couldn’t sleep last night,” he said today.
“I had a pretty restless night, so many things going through my mind, like how much more of her body will they find.”
Homicide detectives told him yesterday DNA had confirmed the bone belonged to his daughter.
“I knew it was going to happen one day but it still came as a really big shock. You are never prepared for it,” he said.
He said people spoke about “closure” but the only closure for him is if his daughter could come home.
RELATED STORIES:
POLICE DOG UNIT MOURNS LOSS OF CHUCK, CANINE THAT GOT NADEN
Loaded military-style rifle seized from stolen car: Police
A loaded military-style rifle has been seized by police after two fumbling men allegedly left it behind when they fled on foot after their vehicle became wedged beside a garbage truck.
Labor minister dumps party red for Sydney flyer
A pamphlet from Tanya Plibersek announcing boundary changes has attracted attention — not just for its message — but for its unexpected purple colour instead of Labor’s signature red.