Human remains found in Central Queensland gemfields identified as Francis Foley, 64, who went missing in 2008

Police have uncovered more human remains in their search for the body of a missing man who is believed to have been murdered in Central Queensland 15 years ago.

Police have uncovered more human remains in their search for the body of missing man Francis “Frank” Foley who is believed to have been murdered in Central Queensland 15 years ago.

Mr Foley was the caretaker of a mining claim near Rubyvale, west of Rockhampton, when he went missing in December, 2008.

Police believed he had been murdered, but never found his body or the person responsible for his death.

In July last year, a fossicker found partial human remains in Sheep Station Creek, about 1km from Mr Foley’s cabin, and they have since been confirmed as the missing 62-year-old’s.

Francis Patrick Foley vanished on Christmas Eve, 2008.

On Tuesday, a team of police commenced an extensive search of the now dry creek bed near where Mr Foley’s remains were found after announcing a $500,000 reward for any information which could lead police to his killer.

Police announced on Wednesday that further human remains had been found. These remains will be forensically examined to confirm their origin.

The search at Sheep Station Creek will continue, and police will be reinterviewing nearby residents.

Detective Senior Sergeant Tara Kentwell on Tuesday said Mr Foley’s two siblings had been “tormented by not knowing the whereabouts of their much-loved brother”.

Police had treated the case as a “missing person” until neighbours recalled hearing gunshots on the afternoon and evening of either December 23 or December 24, 2008, in the vicinity of Mr Foley’s cabin.

On this date he attended the Emerald Central Business District in the company of a neighbour for Christmas shopping, before returning home.

Detective Senior Sergeant Tara Kentwell confirmed the human remains were Mr Foley. Picture: Liam Kidston

This neighbour attended Frank’s property to check on his welfare after local flooding on December 28, 2008.

“On arrival this person observed an exploded gas bottle and Frank’s discarded wallet on the ground in the carport,” Detective Senior Sergeant Kentwell said.

“Police investigations determined that the damage to the gas bottle and further damage to the front security door were consistent with having been hit with a gunshot blast.”

Queensland Police search a dry creek in Reward, near Rubyvale, where the human remains of Francis "Frank" Foley were found last year.

Detective Senior Sergeant Kentwell said blood located at the scene was later identified as belonging to Mr Foley.

She said Mr Foley lived a “transient lifestyle” but owned a number of “quite expensive gem stones”.

With assistance from the Australian Federal Police (AFP) National DNA Program for Unidentified and Missing Persons, the remains were identified as belonging to Francis Foley.

Associate Professor Jodie Ward of the Australian Federal Police National DNA Program for Unidentified and Missing Persons said DNA profiles were handed over to the QPS in November of 2022.

“(The profiles) were scientifically linked to close living residence of Frank Foley,” she said.

Detective Senior Sergeant Kentwell said a number of persons of interest had been identified since Mr Foley’s disappearance.

Francis Foley when he was younger.

Mr Foley’s son Shaun Charlton said: “I have missed my dad now for 15 years”.

“I know the sort of town Rubyvale is, and I know people know,” he said.

“Please help me find my dad’s killer.”

In April 2013, the Coroner returned findings determining that Frank was believed to be deceased, however evidence was unable to be identified connecting any person/s to Frank’s death.

Mr Foley moved to the Rubyvale area around 2003, working in various trades including carpentry, building and vehicle repairs.

At the time of his disappearance, he was a caretaker for a fossicking lease on behalf of a person who lived interstate.

A $500,000 Queensland Government Reward, announced by the QPS on Tuesday, is for information which leads to the apprehension and conviction of the person or persons responsible for this murder.

Originally published as Human remains found in Central Queensland gemfields identified as Francis Foley, 64, who went missing in 2008