Gage Wilson: Heartbreaking end to search for man who vanished in Byron Bay hinterland
Human remains have been found in a wooded area not far from the wreckage of the car of a man who disappeared three months ago.
Gage Wilson, 31, was last seen at Hakea Court in Mullumbimby in far northern New South Wales at around 5am on May 18.
His abandoned pickup was later found crashed into a tree on Koonyum Range Road in Wilsons Creek in the Byron Bay hinterland.
Mr Wilson did not have his phone with him at the time and it is unclear whether anyone else was in the pickup with him.
A large-scale search was launched as it was feared that he had gotten out of his pickup truck in a daze and ended up in the bushes after the crash.
Mr Wilson’s family took to social media on Tuesday to share a sad update they received from police.
Volunteers found skeletal remains 1km from the wreckage of Mr Wilson’s pickup truck.
Apparently the remains were found on August 4.
Volunteers have found human remains believed to be those of Gage Wilson
The remains were found 1km from where the wreckage of Mr Wilson’s pickup truck was found (photo)
“The body has been sent to Newcastle for a forensic autopsy and DNA testing to confirm if this is Gage,” his sister Niki Manidakis posted on the Facebook page Help find Gage Wilson.
‘The police are 90 percent sure that the body is my brother’s.’
She urged everyone not to get involved in anything that deviates from what the family knows about Gage.
“If you hear speculation and rumors about things that may have happened, please dispel them. We find these types of unsubstantiated rumors and conversations to be very disrespectful to our family and especially to Gage,” Ms. Manidakis said.
‘I would also like to take this time to thank everyone who participated in the search, shed many tears and invested time to find Gage.
It’s a very sad time for us.
‘I will keep you informed of further developments regarding the results of the DNA analysis.’
Gage Wilson has been missing since May 18
On a GoFundMe page set up to support the search, Mr Wilson was described as “a unique person with a beautiful, generous heart”.
“(Gage is) known for his ability to make us all laugh. He is honest and authentic, and his presence will be greatly missed,” the statement read.