14 October 2021

Police confirm bone found in South Coast garden is human

| Kim Treasure
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River Road, Mossy Point.

A human bone was discovered in the garden of a home in River Road, Mossy Point, south of Batemans Bay. Photo: Google Earth.

NSW Police have confirmed a bone found in a garden bed on the South Coast more than 12 months ago is human, but they have not indicated how old it is or how long they think it has been in the ground.

The bone was found in the garden bed of a home in Mossy Point, south of Batemans Bay, that is rented out to medical students.

On Sunday 17 May 2020, one of the students found the bone protruding from the dirt. The group of students, from ANU’s Rural Clinical School, recognised it as most likely being a human femur.

Officers attached to South Coast Police District attended and established a crime scene. An extensive search failed to uncover any other bones in the vicinity.

At the time, police said the bone was also assessed by a local vet, who also concluded it was most likely human, and it was sent to Sydney for further testing.

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The bone has since undergone specialist forensic testing and its identification as human remains confirmed.

A police spokesperson said the case was progressing with the Missing Persons Unit, where the use of familial DNA testing will be considered.

Back in 2020, police said an initial examination of the soil indicated the bone could have been moved from an unspecified location.

“The soil may have been moved there from another area when the house was built some years ago, which is quite common,” a spokesperson said.

The investigation remains ongoing and anyone with information is urged to come forward and call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. They can do so anonymously.

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