Remains of Craigieburn man Adrian Romeo found almost a year after he disappeared

Human remains belonging to a Craigieburn man suspected of being murdered have been found almost a year after he disappeared.

Human remains belonging to an allegedly murdered Craigieburn man have been found almost a year after he vanished.

Adrian Romeo, 43, was last seen by his family after he told them he was buying smokes and visiting associates in Greenvale on February 10 last year.

Police allege he was murdered later that day and he was reported missing two days later.

Several extensive multi-agency searches for Mr Romeo have been conducted over the past year.

Adrian Romeo has been missing for almost a year.

A forensics team searches the area on Brendan St in Greenvale after Adrian Romeo’s disappearance. Picture: Diego Fedele

Detectives on Saturday confirmed human remains found at a property in Wildwood, near Sunbury, belonged to Mr Romeo.

“A number of items” were located at the property between November 27 and December 10 last year.

They were forensically tested and have returned a positive match to Mr Romeo.

A subsequent search of that semi-rural area on Thursday located nothing further.

Three alleged offenders have since been arrested and charged.

Wallan man Robert Mantini was charged with Mr Romeo’s murder. Picture: Supplied

Wallan man Robert Mantini, 58, was in July charged with Mr Romeo’s murder.

Last month, a 60-year-old Greenvale man and a Wallan man, 29, were both charged with assisting an offender to murder.

The three accused will face Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on February 24.

Police allegedly seized a gun, ammunition and drugs from a Wildwood Rd property in that suburb during searches last year.

Specialist cadaver dogs from NSW were also brought in to assist in the search for his body or belongings.

Police search for clues in the disappearance of Mr Romeo. Picture: Diego Fedele

Homicide detectives believe Mr Romeo met with his associates at Greenvale before he disappeared.

They were some of the last people to have seen him before he was allegedly killed.

Those associates were known to police, as was Mr Romeo on minor matters.

Detectives last year ruled out any links between Mr Romeo and organised crime.

The former concreter and security guard was remembered as a “much loved” family man with a close group of mates.

Originally published as Remains of Craigieburn man Adrian Romeo found almost a year after he disappeared