DETECTIVES have issued a new appeal for information as they piece together the final moments of a man whose body was found in a vehicle south of Bathurst on Valentine’s Day.
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Police and emergency services located the body of a man in a white 2015-model BMW M3 sedan on Duckmaloi Road, Duckmaloi, 15km from Oberon just before 8pm on Tuesday, February 14.
The man was formally identified as 35-year-old Queensland man, Ricky Ciano, who was visiting Sydney and reported missing the day before when he could not be contacted by family.
Investigations into the circumstances surrounding Mr Ciano's death are being led by the State Crime Command's Homicide Squad under Strike Force Kiaka.
Detectives determined he was stopped by officers from Traffic & Highway Patrol Command about 11.40am on Saturday, February 11 for a traffic matter in the Penrith area.
Homicide Squad commander, Detective Acting Superintendent Jason Dickinson said strike force investigators are continuing their inquiries into Mr Ciano’s movements over that weekend.
“We’ve tracked his BMW from the vehicle stop through the Blue Mountains and into the Oberon area, and then the car goes back and forth a number of times,” Detective Acting Superintendent Dickinson said.
“We believe Mr Ciano may have stayed in the Oberon area and someone else drove his car on the other trips, so we obviously want to speak with those people.
“There is also a white Toyota Hiace van seen travelling to the same rural area outside of Oberon on the Saturday, which we are also working to identify.”
Investigators are appealing to members of the community who may have been travelling between Penrith and Oberon over the weekend.
“We’re keen to speak to anyone who may have seen Mr Ciano, his BMW, or the Hiace van at anytime over that weekend,” Detective Acting Superintendent Dickinson said.
“Our inquiries in the Oberon area lead us to believe his vehicle was parked – where it was later located – as early as the Sunday afternoon (February 12).
“While we’ve already made numerous inquiries, we are particularly interested in speaking to anyone who was on Duckmaloi Road around that time and has not yet spoken to police.”
Police are urging anyone with information that may assist Strike Force Kiaka investigators to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or use the Crime Stoppers online reporting page.
Information will be treated in the strictest of confidence.
