Bush death still a mystery

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Court Reporter

A CORONER has been unable to determine what caused the death of a Huonville man whose skull and bones were found scattered at kunanyi/Mt Wellington.

Dale Eric Godfrey, 48, went missing in March 2013, after telling his daughter he planned to “go bush” and that he’d contact her in three months.

But Mr Godfrey’s never saw him again. daughter

His remains were not found until six years later, on February 11 last year, when bushwalkers chanced upon his bones near the East West Trail, Coroner Simon Cooper said in his findings released on Thursday.

Forensic, search and rescue police and criminal investigation police arrived the next day, finding Mr Godfrey’s camping equipment, clothing and a wallet with his identification in it.

“A number of human bones, including a skull with a majority of teeth intact, were found in the general area, spread over a radius of about 20 metres,” Mr Cooper said. “The spread of bones was consistent with animal interference.”

The bones were taken to the Royal Hobart Hospital mortuary and examined. A cause of death could not be determined, but DNA testing proved the remains belonged to Mr Godfrey.

Mr Cooper said a taxi driver dropped Mr Godfrey at the Springs on March 1, 2013, but there was no evidence of him being seen alive after that date.

According to police reports at the time, Mr Godfrey was an experienced camper, had “more than sufficient provisions” with him, and appeared to be in good spirits at the time of his disappearance.

The Mercury reported last year that his daughter raised concerns with police about his whereabouts in 2014, but he was not formally reported missing until 2017.

“I note that Mr Godfrey had a history of mental health difficulties, symptoms of which included suicidal ideation,” Mr Cooper said.

“It may be that his death was suicide, although nothing was located at the scene where his remains were located to suggest that this was so. Similarly, it may be that his death was due to misadventure or natural causes.

“However, the evidence does not enable me to make a finding in this regard either.”