Gary John Schmidt dies in fatal Kununurra incident
Gary John Schmidt dies in fatal Kununurra incident
Fatal Kununurra discovery of Gary John Schmidt – Obituary.
Nearly a decade after a body was found near Kununurra in 2015, police have officially identified the remains as belonging to 46-year-old Gary John Schmidt from the Northern Territory, using advanced DNA technology.
The body was initially discovered on June 17, 2015, three kilometers east of Cockatoo Springs along the Victoria Highway. Despite a forensic examination, investigators were unable to determine the identity at the time, and the case was taken over by missing persons detectives.
Recent breakthroughs in genetic genealogy have now allowed authorities to confirm that the remains are of Mr. Schmidt. However, the circumstances surrounding his death remain unresolved.
Back in July 2015, police canvassed remote areas near the WA-Northern Territory border in search of leads, but no conclusive information was found. It was suspected that Mr. Schmidt had died in late April or early May of that year.
This genetic technique, which searches for DNA matches within public databases, has helped solve several other cold cases in Australia, including sexual assault cases from the early 1990s in Perth.
David Menzel, president of the Shire of Wyndham-East Kimberley, reflected on the unease felt in the community when the body was initially found. He expressed hope that the identification of Mr. Schmidt could provide more insight into his death and bring closure to a troubling mystery.
Authorities believe Mr. Schmidt may have been on his way back to the Northern Territory at the time of his death, but it is still unclear why he was in the Kununurra area. Police are urging anyone with information about Mr. Schmidt’s movements to contact Crime Stoppers.
Gary John Schmidt dies in fatal Kununurra incident Fatal Kununurra discovery of Gary John Schmidt – Obituary. Nearly a decade after a body was found near Kununurra in 2015, police have officially identified the remains as belonging to 46-year-old Gary John Schmidt from the Northern Territory, using advanced DNA technology. The body was initially…
Gary John Schmidt dies in fatal Kununurra incident Fatal Kununurra discovery of Gary John Schmidt – Obituary. Nearly a decade after a body was found near Kununurra in 2015, police have officially identified the remains as belonging to 46-year-old Gary John Schmidt from the Northern Territory, using advanced DNA technology. The body was initially…