Grisly discovery made at Springbrook National Park on the Gold Coast
A skull found in a national park may belong to a child and appears to have been deliberately placed.
Police are investigating after a bushwalker made the gruesome discovery about 10 meters from a circuit in Springbrook National Park on the Gold Coast on Friday morning.
Police say the skull is small and may belong to a child or a person of light build, and a crime scene has been declared.
“Initial suggestions are that the skull was placed there,” Chief Inspector Craig Hanlon said on Monday, adding that further investigations, including DNA and radiocarbon dating, could take months.
Forensic pathologists and a bone expert from Queensland Police examine the skull.
There is no evidence of a recent death or foul play in the area.
“The skull looks like it has been in the conditions for a long time… it has not been submerged or buried; it was on the ground,” Chief Supt Hanlon said.
An investigation has been launched into the origins of a human skull found by a bushwalker in Springbook Nation Park on Friday morning (pictured).
Police believe the skull belongs to a child or a person of light build, but have revealed there is no evidence to suggest it is a recent death or a crime.
Springbrook National Park is a popular tourist destination known for its lush rainforest and scenic hiking trails.
Police are investigating how the skull ended up in the park, with investigators exploring possibilities ranging from a lost museum artifact to a hoax.
“There are many questions we need answers to, which is why our investigation is ongoing,” Chief Hanlon said.
No other bones or evidence of criminal activity were found in the area after a thorough search involving about 100 State Emergency Service volunteers.