Two in custody as body found at Myrtle Park in search for missing man Jake Anderson-Brettner

UPDATED: POLICE have launched a murder investigation after being led to a torso believed to belong to missing Launceston man Jake Daniel Anderson-Brettner.

UPDATED: POLICE have launched a murder investigation after being led to the body of missing Launceston man Jake Daniel Anderson-Brettner on Sunday night.

A torso which police believe was Mr Anderson-Brettner, 24, was found near Myrtle Park, about 30km northeast of Launceston.

A 25-year-old man and a 26-year-old woman from Riverside, who were not previously known to police, have been in custody since Saturday but no charges have been laid.

Mr Anderson Brettner was last seen in his utility on Wednesday about 6.30pm

The utility was found in Balmoral Avenue, Riverside, on Thursday at 4.30pm.

Detective Acting Inspector Craig Fox said police believed Mr Anderson-Brettner was likely to have been murdered between 6pm and 9pm on Wednesday.

Commander Brett Smith would not comment on the motive and declined to say whether the murder was drug related.

The cause of the death is part of ongoing investigation.

Searches are continuing in and around Launceston including the tip and West Tamar Highway.

‘This is quite a dynamic and evolving incident which is moving very, very quickly,” Commander Smith said.

“We have two people in custody and we believe there are other people that may know more information and we ask them to come forward.”

Tasmania Police search the Remount Road tip in Launceston as part of the search for Jake Daniel Anderson-Brettner. Picture: BRUCE MOUNSTER

A 6km section of the Tasman Highway has been closed while an extensive search is conducted and forensic evidence collected.

Commander Smith said the two people in custody were assisting police with their inquiries.

Police were unwilling to comment on the events leading up to the issuing of a missing person media release on Thursday.

“We were onto this very quickly, when Jake was reported missing we had a fairly small time frame which has really assisted us and we had some significant information of his movements,” he said.

“Because we got that information really quickly and the scene quite quickly and some public information out there we managed to put a good timeline of what we think happened and we just need those gaps filled in now.”

Detective Acting Inspector Craig Fox, left, and Commander Brett Smith during a press conference at Launceston. Picture: CHRIS KIDD

Acting Insp Fox said police were interested in how certain vehiclee came to be in certaion locations and who parked them.

“There was no pursuit or car chase and so there is no information to suggest this was an ongoing rolling incident on our roads,” he said.

Commander Smith said he was not aware of any outlaw motorcylce gang members being involved.

“It would be unfair to provide any other details – there will be a Part B to this,” he said.

In the past four days police have sought information on three black vehicles – a Range Rover, a Jeep, Mr Anderson-Brettner’s Nissan Navara utility – and a white Mazda 6.

The Mazda station wagon has not been located but police were keen to either include or exclude it from the investigation.

Acting Insp Fox said the cars were Tasmanian-registered vehicles.

A police car at Myrtle Park, about half way between Launceston and Scottsdale, where the body of a man believed to be missing person Jake Anderson-Brettner has been found. Picture: NICK CLARK

EARLIER: A BODY believed to be that of missing Launceston man Jake Anderson-Brettner has been found at Myrtle Park outside Launceston.

Tasmania Police Commander Brett Smith said the body was found on Sunday night.

A 25-year-old man and a 26-year-old woman from Riverside were taken into custody on Saturday.

“As a result of those inquiries, detectives were led to a location near Myrtle Park, where a

body was located. While the body has not been formally identified, it is believed to be

Mr Anderson-Brettner,” Commander Smith said.

“The body is not intact. As part of the ongoing investigation, police will be searching a

number of locations in order to provide Mr Anderson-Brettner’s family with closure.

“Our thoughts are with Mr Anderson-Brettner’s family and loved ones at this difficult time.”

Police had been searching for Jake Daniel Anderson-Brettner, 24, since last week.

Mr Anderson-Brettner, 24, was last seen in his utility on Wednesday night about 6.30pm.

His utility was found in Balmoral Avenue, Riverside, on Thursday at 4.30pm.

“I’d like to thank those members of the community who have provided information, and

urge anyone else who has information and hasn’t spoken to police to contact us or

provide information anonymously to Crime Stoppers.”

No one has been charged at this stage, however two people remain in custody in

relation to the incident.