Family of ‘body in the dunes’ victim Simon Gaskill reveal ‘new hope’ after fresh probe launched

The family of “body in the dunes” victim Simon Gaskill is bracing for more twists and turns in the investigation into his death in Ocean Grove, as the clock ticks on a fresh probe by homicide detectives.

An undated picture of Simon Gaskill as an older man. His body was found in the dunes on 15 April, 2022, at Ocean Grove.

The family of the mysterious “body in the dunes” victim is bracing for more twists and turns in the investigation into his death near an Ocean Grove beach, as the clock ticks on a fresh probe by homicide detectives.

A laptop, social media footprint and body-worn camera footage of an encounter between police and Simon Gaskill will be pulled apart by investigators with fresh eyes over the next two months, giving “new hope” of finding the truth of how he met his lonely end.

The 51-year-old’s decomposed remains were found by a tourist in the sand dunes in the Bellarine Peninsula town on Good Friday in 2022, near where the former surfer had been living on his own in a tent.

A teenager discovered his remained in bushes near the Ocean Grove surf beach (pictured) Picture: Mandy Squires

His sister, Amanda Gaskill, has today revealed her family was briefed by the homicide squad about new avenues of enquiry after a coroner sensationally assigned them to the case on August 30.

It is the third police-coronial probe into his death.

“We are so far down the track and we are still none the wiser on what has happened, but certainly I think we will get a decent hit now,” she said.

“The other investigation certainly didn’t do too well.”

Amanda Gaskill. Picture: Brad Fleet

Ms Gaskill said her brother had “fallen out” with her family before his body was discovered on April 15.

An initial investigation by local police indicated the last known person he spoke to was his friend, Cameron Miller, on March 26, according to Ms Gaskill.

His phone has never been found and records not examined in the initial inquiry.

“I’m not an investigator or a police officer but I was able to find things that the police should have found out,” she said.

“If I am trying to find out his call details, what is on his laptop, who had he been in touch with and hanging around, if I am having to do this and not the police, that is where there is something wrong.

“That is how I felt.”

An examination of the dead man’s laptop, contacts and movements in the lead up to his discovery will be conducted from scratch in the fresh probe, to be led by homicide detective Leigh Smyth, something Ms Gaskill has welcomed.

“I sometimes think to myself he would be hating this and all the attention,” she said.

“But at the same time if there is something that should be known, or something has happened to him, then he would want us to keep searching for the truth.

“Someone out there might know something.”

Coroner Jacqui Hawkins closed the case without inquest in July 2022, after an autopsy was unable to ascertain the cause of death.

It’s believed Gaskill, who grew up in Apollo Bay, had been dead for weeks and his body in an advanced state of decomposition when he was found.

Simon Gaskill was a talented junior surfer. He had been living on his own in a tent before his body was found in the dunes on 15 April, 2022.

His sister said she just wants adequate answers into her brother’s demise, who she said was not suicidal despite his mental health battles, and struggles with alcohol and drugs.

A coroner’s court heard last week his death was not being treated as suspicious.

“I have gone back and forth about the foul play question and thought, maybe,” she said.

“It’s possible it could have been a medical episode, and obviously where he was, someone is not going to find him unless they’re going into the bush.

“Dad and I have always said that as long as every avenue that can be looked into is looked into, and it comes back his death is undetermined, or there was nothing untoward, then we can move on.”

Homicide detectives are expected to hand a brief of evidence to coroner Ingrid Giles in November.
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Originally published as Family of ‘body in the dunes’ victim Simon Gaskill reveal ‘new hope’ after fresh probe launched