Human remains found near Bingara could be murdered man Darren Willis, police say

DETECTIVES are investigating whether bones found on a Bingara property could be the remains of a man murdered almost 10 years ago.

A local farmer found the human bones on their property just out of town last Friday, sparking a major police operation.

Police are now investigating whether they could be linked to the cold-case murder of Darren Willis, who police suspect was killed in Bingara in 2010. His remains have never been found.

Moree detectives, forensic police from Inverell and local police spent several days scouring the property out of town as they try and determine the bones' identity.
 

"Investigators are keeping an open mind as to the bones and we're not ruling anything in or out at this stage of the investigation," New England Inspector Martin Burke told the Leader on Wednesday.

"Police are examining current missing persons reports as part the investigation."

He confirmed Strike Force Barca officers - the police probe investigating the murder of Mr Willis - had been working with detectives, as part of the investigation.

Police are remaining tight-lipped on where the property is, as well as what other evidence was discovered at the scene.

Inspector Burke said the bones had been seized and transferred to a specialist forensic lab for testing.

"Police have seized a number of exhibits from the scene and they will be subject to forensic and DNA testing," he said.

The landholder discovered the bones on Friday morning and alerted police immediately, before a crime scene was setup.

After several days of combing paddocks, the crime scene has since been cleared and police said testing of the bones could take a number of weeks before the results are known.

"Investigators have canvassed the area and are appealing for anyone with information to come forward and contact Moree detectives on 6757 0799," he said.

Mr Willis' body has never been found, but a breakthrough in the case in 2018 turned the long-term missing person report into a murder cold case - prompting a $350,000 reward for any information that leads police to his killers.

Detectives have identified "persons of interest", but key details of the Strike Force Barca murder probe remain under wraps by police, as the investigation continues.

In February, a 1980 model XD Ford ute - which detectives believe was used in the suspicious disappearance of Mr Willis before his body was dumped - was seized and tested by police.

In May 2018, as part of the murder probe, specialist officers and divers combed the river and its banks in the Eaglehawk Reserve, or Four Mile area as it's known to locals, on the outskirts of Bingara.