Gruesome skeletal discovery made on beach in Darwin’s north

Police have been called in after a bushwalker found a “large number of bones” at a popular tourist beach.

Police are have established a criminal investigation after human remains, including a completely in tact skull, were found near a popular beach in Darwin’s north.

A bushwalker made the gruesome discovery on Wednesday at Lee Point Beach at about lunchtime before notifying the police soon after, according to Detective Acting Superintendent Karl Day.

The remains were found underneath shrubbery near the carpark of the popular beach.

Police said the remains were found under leaf litter and shrubbery and had possibly been exposed by a dog the man was walking with, with the tourist who made the find spotting part of the remains before realising that what he was looking at was actually a human skull.

“When he took a closer look it was quite clear that it was a skull and from there he’s reported it to police,” Detective Acting Superintendent Karl Day said.

Police then established a crime scene before discovering a “large number” of other bones in the surrounding area that are all from one person.

The remains were found here by a tourist bushwalking through the area.

“There’s nothing to indicate more than one body,” Mr Day said.

Interestingly, forensic experts haven’t been able to find any signs of trauma to either the skull or larger bones.

“Obviously all the other bones will be looked at in much more detail but looking at them from the layperson’s point of view and with the experts on the ground, there’s no indication of trauma,” Mr Day said.

The beach has been described as a great destination for families. Picture: WeekendNotes

Police will now focus on identifying the remains and establishing a timeline of their death.

“If anyone feels that this is one of their loved ones, or someone they know, or if anyone has any information about this particular area or deceased person we urge them to come forward.”

Police will now “go into mitochondrial DNA” to identify the person, with the cold case, missing persons and major crime units “all working together” to determine who the remains belong to.

Archaeological experts have said that the remains don’t appear to be a part of a traditional burial site, but Mr Day said that the option was “still open”.

A skull was found among other bones.

Mr Day also defended the decision to wait two days to inform the media and the public that human remains had been discovered at the tourist beach.

“If we released the exact location of that scene, it might have created a bit too much public interest and perhaps contaminated the area,” he said.

Despite the remains being close to the carpark of the popular beach, the scene was “far enough away” to not be spotted by members of the public.

Specialists including a forensic pathologist have “painstakingly processed” the scene from Wednesday afternoon until Friday lunchtime.

Lee Point Beach is located just 14km from the Darwin CBD and is popular with families, dog walkers, and birdwatchers.

With a boat ramp as well as crabs and rock pools in the area, many parents take their children to the beach to explore.

It is also popular with fishermen, with barramundi, tuna, mackerel and whiting all found in its waters.

The discovery was made at Lee Point Beach in Darwin's north.

“Further analysis will be undertaken by forensic specialists and until that time we cannot expand further,” police say.

Police are urging members of the public with knowledge of the death or any other information to come forward and speak to them on 131 444.

Please quote reference number 10129744.