Forensic examination of three bone fragments located by a member of the public in the Yatina area, 220 km north of Adelaide, has determined they are not human remains.
The bone fragments were handed to Major Crime Investigation Branch detectives in July and September 2025 after claims were made they were human.
The bone handed to police in July 2025 was cut into five small fragments prior to being received.
These fragments were examined by a forensic anthropologist from Forensic Science South Australia (FSSA). Initial assessment indicated the fragments were likely to be non‑human.
To ensure accuracy, the fragments underwent micro‑computed tomography (Micro-CT) scanning, and the resulting data was reviewed by an anthropologist specialising in human bone tissue microstructure (histology). The expert concluded that the fragments were not human bone.
The two bone fragments handed to police in September 2025 were examined by a forensic anthropologist from FSSA, who determined the bones were non‑human. This opinion was peer reviewed and this finding was confirmed.
Police wish to highlight that the cutting and handling of the bone received in July 2025, compromised forensic testing and made it extremely difficult for experts to determine whether it was human or non‑human through visual examination alone.
If the bone fragment had been human, the way it was handled, cut, and packaged could have significantly hindered the extraction of DNA and may have prevented the identification of a deceased person.
Such actions have the potential to cause serious detriment to investigations and undue distress to families of missing persons.
The searches and investigations conducted by the finder of these bones has been the subject of ongoing social media speculation, which has been reported by mainstream media.
SA Police is urging the community and media outlets to exercise caution and responsibility when sharing, reporting, or promoting information relating to missing person cases. While often well‑intentioned, the reporting of unverified or speculative information can significantly hinder investigations and cause profound emotional harm to families of missing persons and families of homicide victims.
"These actions are not harmless - they jeopardise forensic work, contaminate potential evidence, and can severely compromise our ability to identify a victim." Major Crime Investigation Branch officer-in-charge Detective Superintendent Darren Fielke said.
