Australian police say they have found the remains of a fraud suspect who went missing from her Sydney home four months ago.The disappearance of the businesswoman Melissa Caddick has caught the public’s eye, amid allegations of stealing millions of dollars from her customers.
Remains Found
Police had not found her whereabouts until last week when campers spotted a shoe containing a decomposed foot on a beach 400km (250 miles) south of Sydney.
The DNA test was compared and matched to Ms. Caddick.
The “time and cause of death” of the financial adviser will now be determined by the coroner, New South Wales Police Assistant Commissioner Mick Willing said on Friday.
“It remains a mystery as to when and how she came into the water,” he told reporters.
“At this point we can’t rule out anything. We have kept an open mind, however given the circumstances of her disappearance… we have always considered the possibility that she may have taken her own life.”
He said a sea modeling by police had shown that it was possible for Caddick to enter the water near her Sydney home.
Police were patrolling the national park near Tathra on the country’s south coast in the hope of finding more clues, he added.
What Are The Allegations Against Melissa Caddick?
Ms Caddick, 49, went missing in early November 12 last year, a day after police raided her home in the Sydney suburb of Dover Heights.
She was reported missing by her son and her husband, who said they believed she had gone to the gym in the morning. All her belongings were left behind.
Shortly afterwards, allegations that she had committed financial fraud were reported by the local media.
The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (Asic) accuses Caddick of stealing at least A $ 13m ($ 10.2m; £ 7.3m) in investments from more than 60 clients, including most of her family and friends.
Local media reported allegations that she was living a luxurious life, which included taking vacations overseas and buying expensive clothes and jewelry.
Various authorities investigations have investigated her disappearance and allegations of financial misconduct.
Earlier this month, police reaffirmed their belief that Caddick was still alive.
But on Friday, Mr Willing said the discovery of her remains indicated that she was dead.
He said her family had been told of the discovery on Thursday and were “obviously distressed”.
Mr Willing said there had been no sightings of Ms Caddick near where her remains had been found.
