Deputy Coroner finds bones found near Whyalla in 1977 belonged to missing man Mario Della Torre

The mystery of Mario Della Torre’s final resting place has been solved. But his case continues to baffle.

SA’s Deputy Coroner has ruled that remains found near Whyalla over 40 years ago belonged to missing man Mario Della Torre. Artwork: Steve Grice/The Advertiser.

Mario Della Torre came to Australia with his family to “live like a king” but in October 1976 he disappeared without a trace.

The 54-year-old was living a quiet life of hard work and family after coming to Australia as a teenager.

Working in Whyalla, Mr Della Torre lived in a barracks used by single labourers and rode his bicycle when he needed to get anywhere close.

In October 1976 he was reported missing, and his family has not heard from him since.

On a far-flung beach north of Whyalla in April 1977, shifting sands revealed a human skull.

Kilometres from the industrial town, further bones were found near the remains and gathered until they formed the shape of a human.

Nearly 45 years after the bones were discovered the mystery of who they belonged to has been laid to rest.

Mr Della Torre was 54 when he was declared missing on October 18, 1976.

Born in Mello, a small town nestled in the Italian Alps, Mr Della Torre came to Australia with his mother when he was 17.

His father had sailed to Australia in 1924 in search of a better life for his family.

One of the few public images of Mario Della Torre who disappeared in the 1970s. This photo was from his application to enter Australia in March 1939. PICTURE: Coroner's Court.

Mario Della Torre’s application for registration as a foreigner living in Australia. Picture: Coroner's Court.

Mr Della Torre’s brother said in a statement to police in October last year that several other families had moved from Mello to Australia seeking their fortunes.

“Word had gotten back that there was plenty of rich land available in Australia,” he said.

“Here people could live like kings and the environment was similar to back home.”

Mr Della Torre and his mother arrived in Adelaide in 1939 aboard the ship Orion and settled in Bridgewater with the father they hadn’t lived with in more than a decade.

He became a labourer at the Whyalla Steel Works in 1961.

“Mario would regularly write to mum and would visit Adelaide quite often, whenever he had holidays or at Christmas or Easter,” Mr Della Torre’s brother said.

“I do remember him having the occasional drink of wine, but he was only what I would call a “usual Italian drinker”.

“The last I saw of him he seemed normal and I don’t remember him having any real problems.”

In Late October 1976, police came to the family’s door and asked if they had seen Mr Della Torre.

“Mario was very reliable and he would always be in contact with mum, because he was particularly close to her,” the brother said.

Mr Della Torre’s face appeared in The Advertiser as police tried to track his movements from when he was last seen at a workers barracks in Whyalla.

Aerial view of the salt flats along the coastline of False Bay, just north of Whyalla, where bones later linked to Mario Della Torre were found.

He became a face without a story as police tried to piece together the quiet life of a man who had not married but maintained strong ties with his family in Adelaide.

After the bones were found, an inquest was held in 1978 but then-Coroner Kevin Barry Ahern could not conclude the remains were those of Mr Della Torre.

The inquest heard evidence that Mr Della Torre had told a Whyalla doctor he was feeling depressed and was prescribed antidepressants.

One of the last sightings of Mr Della Torre was by a cleaner at the facility who saw him flushing several tablets down the toilet.

After that Mr Della Torre was not seen again.

Several reported sightings of him presented at the inquest came to nothing.

Following prompting by the Public Trustee who were dealing with Mr Della Torre’s estate, Mr Ahern reopened the inquest on June 12, 1979 and made a finding that it was likely the man was dead.

Aerial map of False Bay tendered as part of the inquest into the disappearance of Mario Della Torre. Picture: Coroner's Court.

On February 9, 2022 Deputy Coroner Anthony Schapel reopened the inquest again.

Counsel assisting the Coroner Sally Giles told the court that the bones had been stored at Forensic Science SA until they were re-examined as part of Operation Persevere.

A familial link was made to Mr Della Torre’s brother, who was 19 years his junior.

DNA testing from a buccal swab given by the brother identified the remains as those of Mr Della Torre.

Mr Schapel issued a preliminary finding that Mr Della Torre had died on, or after, October 18, 1976 and that the human remains found a year later belonged to him.

Written findings are expected to be released by the Coroner in the coming weeks.

The cause of the death remains undetermined.

Originally published as Deputy Coroner finds bones found near Whyalla in 1977 belonged to missing man Mario Della Torre