Detectives from Canobolas Local Area Command have been working to identify the remains since they were found by a man bushwalking in the area.

A search by police at the time recovered further skeletal remains.

As part of the investigation, bone was sent to New Zealand for advanced technology, and samples were sent to Texas in the USA for DNA analysis.

A separate investigation was on-going within the Chifley LAC concerning the disappearance of Judith Bartlett, who was last seen in March 1964, aged 28 on her way to the Old Royal Hotel, two blocks from her home in Bathurst. 

The case was re-examined by Strike Force Greenfest in 2001 and an inquest in 2005 concluded with an open finding. 

As part of the remains investigation, a DNA profile was then run against all missing women within the command and, in April 2013, samples taken from the remains were matched with the daughter of a long-term missing woman, Judith Barlett.

On Monday, 6 May 2013, Detectives from Canobolas LAC travelled to Binnaway in north-west NSW to inform Mrs Bartlett’s family they had confirmed the remains as being those of their missing mother.

"I had a mother that I thought loved me," Judith's daughter Francis Ryan, now 55, said. 

"I had a mother who was my friend. She was my friend and she was was my mother and then I was told she'd gone away and I thought she'd left me."

Her daughter Frances and sons Graeme, then six, and Daryl, then two, grew up thinking their mother had left them.

Daryl has since spent his life "almost hating on women for walking out on him", Ms Ryan said while their father Ronald, who died last year, raised them alone believing his loving wife had simply left them.

"My brothers and I have found out that our mother didn't leave us. She didn't stop loving us. She was taken by a thief in the night," Mrs Ryan said. 

Canobolas Crime Manager Detective Inspector Denise Godden, said they were glad to provide the information to Mrs Bartlett’s surviving family.

“Mrs. Bartlett’s daughter refused to believe Judith had simply walked away from her children,” Insp Godden said.

“Frances had waited and waited, hoping that one day there would be answers.

“It is very satisfying as an investigator that my team kept asking questions and finally came through with a result and provided those answers.

“I applaud the hard work and persistence of my team. It was a tremendous effort, assisted by many other agencies,” Insp Godden said.

The family are now searching for answers as to why their mother disappeared with Canobolas detectives opening a homicide investigation and appealing to the public for any information that might help solve the mystery.

Test results revealed that Mrs Bartlett had sustained suspicious injuries and, coupled with the fact she was discovered on an incredibly remote property more than 200 kilometres from where she went missing, police believe she was murdered.

But Ms Ryan, who now lives in Binnaway in north-west NSW, said somebody must know something.

"We want to be our mother's voice," she said on Monday. "And we are asking anyone that knew mu m... any little memory, if you could come forward and give mum a voice."

- with smh.com.au

The story on June 12, 2009: 

Source: Cowra Guardian

When Alan Harding went for his usual morning walk with his two Jack Russells last Friday he never thought police would be swarming the area just days later.

Harding was walking on private property near the Conimbla National Park last Friday when he discovered what he thought was a human skull lying on the ground.

Harding had stumbled across three pieces of what is believed to be a human skull.

“I was just walking the dogs and we were heading back for brekkie when the dome shape of the skull caught my attention,” he said.

“I picked it up, took it home and called the police, they told me not to move…then they came and took it. I believe they are waiting for pathology,” Mr Harding said.

Police, detectives, inspectors and the SES combed the area on Wednesday looking for clues and more evidence.

“They found a bone which looked like an arm bone, but it is not necessarily human,” Mr Harding said.

Allan Harding and his wife have been in the area for just two years and enjoy the exclusiveness of the location.

“We never would have thought we would find something like this. There are a million reasons why this skull could be here and I guess the police are trying to narrow it down to work out why."

Detective Inspector Mark Szalajko of the Canobolas Local Area Command said it is early stages, but the skull appears to belong to a person of white/European appearance and had been at the property for some time.

The bones have been sent to a specialty forensic unit at Newcastle to determine the age of the remains.

Anyone who has information that might assist investigating officers is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.