Flesh find ‘unlikely linked to fraudster’ Melissa Caddick

Police believe it is unlikely a chunk of human flesh found on the NSW south coast at the weekend is linked to Melissa Caddick.

Melissa Caddick. Picture: Facebook

Police believe it is unlikely a chunk of human flesh found on the NSW south coast at the weekend is linked to missing Sydney fraudster Melissa Caddick and are investigating whether it belongs to a snorkeller who vanished off a nearby beach a month ago.

The large piece of torso — including a belly button — was found washed up on Mollymook Beach, about 220km south of Sydney, on Friday night before being sent for forensic testing.

The discovery came one day after police revealed Ms Caddick’s remains had been found inside an sneaker on Bournda Beach, 225km further south, by campers earlier in the week, sparking speculation the human remains could be connected.

The 49-year-old mother had been missing for more than three months: she was last seen leaving her $7m Dover Heights mansion in Sydney’s eastern suburbs for a morning run on Nov­ember 12, the day after her home was raided by the Australian Securities & Investments Commission.

The corporate watchdog was investigating claims Ms Caddick had systematically defrauded family and friends of more $25m over seven years, using the money to pay for a lavish lifestyle that included high-end property, international getaways and designer clothing.

Police confirmed Ms Caddick’s “badly decomposed foot” had been found last Sunday. DNA testing matched it on Thursday to samples taken from her toothbrush and family.

While they are awaiting the results of DNA testing on the human torso, police sources said the remains were “too fresh” to belong to Ms Caddick and detectives were pursuing the disappearance of a snorkeller 55km south of Mollymook Beach four weeks ago as a line of inquiry.

The 39-year-old had been swimming with friends off Richmond Beach on January 25 when he vanished about 3pm.

An experienced spear-fisherman, he was last seen exploring a rock formation off the beach.

His two children were playing on the beach when friends ­realised he had disappeared and alerted authorities.

His pregnant wife had stayed behind at the family’s home in ACT on the day of the incident.

Police and surf lifesaving crews scoured the coastline for more than a week after the man disappeared but their efforts were hampered by heavy storms and police divers were able to search around the rock formation only six days after he vanished. The operation was wound down in early February.

Officers, along with SES personnel, expanded the hunt for more human remains on Sunday as far as Cunjarong Point, about 30km north of Mollymook.

It comes as locals continue to scour the shores around Bournda Beach, where Ms Caddick’s foot was found.

A group of walkers contacted police on Saturday afternoon to report they had found two large bones washed up on nearby Tura Beach before handing them in for testing so it could be determined whether they were human or animal remains.

Xanthe Mallett, a criminologist who has been following Ms Caddick’s dis­appear­ance, said she expected the results of forensic testing on the human torso would be concluded by midweek.

While she cautioned against ruling out anything, Dr Mallet said it would “make more sense” if the latest discovery were ­connected to a more recent ­disappearance.

“We can’t make any leaps until tests have been finalised,” the University of Newcastle criminologist said. “But certainly (the snorkeller) would fit more with where the remains were found and the level of ­decomposition.”