Murder victim’s bone found 12 years later

AUSTRALIA: A bone belonging to murdered woman Lateesha Nolan, who was killed by her psychopathic cousin Malcolm Naden nearly 12 years ago, has been found metres from the search site he had pointed out to police.

The 24-year-old was murdered in January 2005 in Dubbo at the hands of Naden. He strangled her in her car after becoming angry during an argument, then dismembered her body and buried it beside the Macquarie River.

He then went on the run for seven years before being captured in 2012 after one of the state’s biggest manhunts.

After his arrest Naden pleaded guilty to Nolan’s murder and led officers to the site in 2012 where excavations were carried out but her remains were not found.

The thigh bone was found by a member of the public on the banks of the Macquarie River south of Dubbo in November, with police yesterday confirming it belonged to the mother of four.

Her parents Mick and Joan were ‘‘understandably shocked but pleased’’ by the news, police said.

Nolan’s father Mick Peet, who now lives in Queensland, will fly to Dubbo to visit the spot where the bone was found.

‘‘This is a start. That is what I am hoping for,’’ he said.

‘‘We always wondered if he was telling the truth about where he buried her. I guess he was.

‘‘I have been blown away by what has happened in the last couple of days,’’ Peet said.

Detective Superintendent Mick Willing said the terrain had changed a lot over the years, especially after several floods since 2005, with the bone found just outside the original search site.

He confirmed Naden’s version of events was consistent with where the bone was uncovered.

‘‘We are doing all we can to find further remains and, again, to provide answers for Lateesha’s family,’’ Willing said. – AAP