A T-shirt could be the key to identifying body
A LONELY body was found in a disused mining shaft in a Victorian ghost town. Police had just one clue to work with.
HIS body was found down a 10-metre old mine and the only clue as to his identity was a faded, dirty Neil Young T-shirt.
For almost two weeks Victoria Police homicide detectives have been sifting through missing persons reports and cold cases trying to find out who the victim in the disused, open cut gold mine at Balaclava Hill, Whroo, was.
Yesterday, police made a public appeal for information about the identity of mystery victim. Cops hoped the T-shirt the man was wearing, the only clue they had, would be the breakthrough they needed.
Today they got one. Late this afternoon, police announced the victim was a 56-year-old from Mooroopna.
They have previously said they believe he had died as the result of an assault.
The victim was found on March 12 by prospectors who were scouting the area, just off Reedy Lake Road.
It was a lucky break — the mine has crumbling walls and the sun peeking through the cracks is its only light source.
The body laid there alone and it could have possibly been there for months.
Police believed the man may have been murdered but their investigation was hampered by a lack of clues, and the fact the man’s identity wasn’t known.
There was one thing though.
The body that lurked in the shadows was covered in a faded, dirty Neil Young T-shirt from a 2009 Australia and New Zealand tour.
The unknown man was found in the disused mine shaft
Homicide Squad Detective Senior Sergeant Shane O’Connell told the Herald Sun the body was in a tunnel that connected with the main mine shaft.
It used to be a tourist attraction but was closed years ago and police are unsure how the body got to be there.
“It’s difficult for us because with the mine we haven’t been able to identify any maps,” Detective Sen-Sgt O’Connell told the Herald Sun.
“It’s a pretty complex, complicated and dangerous sort of a catacomb of tunnels and shafts — horizontal and vertical all interlinking.
“So we’ve been looking at how and we haven’t got a definite answer at this stage.”
Police will not reveal possible causes of death but Homicide Squad Detective Inspector Mick Hughes told ABC it was likely to be an assault.
The victim had been rolled in a tarp and police believe it was dropped into the mine.
He is about 179-183cm tall and had a full upper denture and no upper or lower teeth.
The man was also wearing an XXL blue, knitted jumper with stripes on the arms.
As well as announcing they knew who the victim was, police confirmed they had made two arrests. A 26-year-old man and 30-year-old woman from Traralgon are assisting police with their inquiries.
Forensic services are searching the home of the deceased man in Mooroopna. His family have been notified.
Anyone with any details is urged to contact Crime Stoppers via 1800 333 000 or crimestoppers.com.au.
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