Finding into death of Unknown Remains

IN THE CORONERS COURT OF VICTORIA AT MELBOURNE

Court Reference: COR 2011 004247

FINDING INTO DEATH WITH INQUEST

Form 37 Rule 60(1) Section 67 of the Coroners Act 2008

Inquest into the Death of: UNKNOWN REMAINS COMPRISING A HUMAN

JAWBONE Delivered On: 14 JULY 2014 Delivered At: MELBOURNE Hearing Dates: 14 JULY 2014 Findings of: CORONER ROSEMARY CARLIN

Police Coronial Support Unit! | LEADING SENIOR CONSTABLE STUART

HASTINGS

I, ROSEMARY CARLIN, Coroner having investigated the death of UNKNOWN REMAINS

COMPRISING A HUMAN JAWBONE ;

AND having held an inquest in relation to this death on 14 July 2014 AT Melbourne

FIND that the identity of the deceased is unknown

THAT the death occurred at an unknown date

AT an unknown location

FROM an unknown cause

In the following circumstances:

1. On 8 November 2011 Yvonne Hutchinson was walking along 90 mile beach when she found what appeared to be a human jawbone. The next day she handed the bone to Detective Senior Constable Amanda Cohen at the Cranbourne Police Station. The bone was

then transported to the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine for further examination,

2. On 9 November 2011, the bone was identified as a human jawbone (mandible) by Forensic Anthropologist, Dr Christopher Briggs. Although initially he thought the bone might be of Aboriginal ancestry, upon thorough examination both Dr Briggs and Dr‘ Hill, Forensic Odontologist, concluded that the mandible was more likely to be Caucasian, that is, nonAboriginal. They both were of the view that the mandible belonged to a male. Dr Briggs estimated his age at the time of death as mid 20s to early 30s and Dr Hill estimated his age at between 20 — 25 years,

3. Dr Hill was not able to comment on the time since death, although he noted that the bone

was clean and would appear to have been immersed in sea water for some time.

4, DNA was extracted ftom the bone and the profile obtained was compared to the DNA profiles of relatives on the Missing Persons Database with no match found. The DNA sample remains on the database, should any further information come forward to help

identify the person to whom the bone belongs.

5, I formally find that the identity of the deceased is unknown, that the cause and

circumstances of his death are also unknown.

6. Should any new facts or circumstances arise, application may be made for this finding to be

reopened.

7. I order that as no person makes claim to the return of the remains that the remains be

cremated and that the ashes be scattered at the Bunurong Memorial Park.

8. Acopy of this finding is directed to be placed on the file and provided to the Investigating

Member of Victoria Police,

Signature:

ROSEMARY CARLIN CORONER 14 JULY 2014