Identified! Australia - 2015 Kununurra John Doe identified as Gary John Schmidt with genetic genealogy, Cockatoo Springs (WA), 28 Sep 2024

[iamshadow21]

Identity of man whose body was found on outback highway confirmed after almost 10 years

Gary John Schmidt's remains were discovered on the outskirts of Kununurra in 2015. Genetic genealogy technology has finally allowed authorities to identify him, but the circumstances surrounding his death remain mysterious.

www.abc.net.au

*For First Nations readers, as per the old article in the post below, this person was believed to be of Aboriginal heritage, and his name and image are both in the article above.

Almost 10 years after a body was discovered along a remote highway in Western Australia's north, police have been able to identify the man using groundbreaking DNA technology.

...

The remains were reported to police on June 17, 2015 after being located three kilometres east of Cockatoo Springs along the Victoria Highway near Kununurra.

 

[iamshadow21]

Here's an old article about the case from 2015.

More details emerge in East Kimberley roadside body mystery

Police have revealed further details of human remains found by the side of a highway in Western Australia's East Kimberley.

www.abc.net.au

 

[iamshadow21]

Another older article.

Mystery man sought in Kununurra highway body case

WA police issue a fresh plea for information in the case of a man found dead on the side of the road in a remote stretch of the state's north.

www.abc.net.au

 

[TootsieFootsie]

MSN

DNA technology has helped police in Western Australia unlock the mystery behind the unidentified human remains discovered on a highway almost a decade ago.
The man's body was found along the Victorian Highway in Kununurra, about three kilometres east of Cockatoo Springs, back in June 2015.

Recent advances in investigative genetic genealogy were able to positively identify the man as Gary John Schmidt

Detectives have made a public appeal for anyone that may recognise Schmidt or may have information surrounding his movements in 2015 prior to his death to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or make a report on the Crime Stoppers Western Australia website.