Decomposing body of missing man found on the side of Stuart Hwy in the NT

The body was described by police as being in an “advanced state of decomposition”, and is believed to be a man who has been missing since Thursday.

Police are investigating how the body of a man, who is believed to have been missing since Thursday, ended up on the side of a major highway in an “advanced state of decomposition”.

Authorities were called to the Stuart Highway, 25 kilometres north of Devils Marbles, just before 2pm on Tuesday.

While the man has yet to be formally identified, police believe it belonged to a man in his 30s, who was reported missing and last seen by his family on Thursday night.

Police say the man’s body was found in an “advanced state of decomposition”. Picture: NCA NewsWire/ Andrew Henshaw

Initial inquiries suggest the man may have died after falling from a vehicle.

Detective Senior Sergeant Brendan Lindner said Major Crash detectives from Alice Springs attended the scene, and will now help local detectives investigate the circumstances surrounding the death.

“The body was in an advanced state of decomposition, likely having been situated near the road for five days,” he said.

Anyone with any knowledge of the incident is urged to call police on 131 444 and quote reference number NTP2400028158.

Originally published as Decomposing body of missing man found on the side of Stuart Hwy in the NT