Partial Remains of Naden’s Victim Found

A bone found south of Dubbo has been positively identified as part of the remains of Lateesha Nolan, who was murdered by Malcolm Naden.

A coordinated search of the riverbank near Butlers Falls will begin today.

Actor, Dominic Dates playing Malcolm Naden in the film directed by Brad Cone.

Detective Superintendent Mick Willing, Homicide Squad Commander, said detectives are determined to find Lateesha’s remains.

“We now know we are looking at the right spot, which is near the 2012 excavation, but changes to the terrain have meant this area was unexposed at that time,” Det Supt Willing said.

“The loss of a loved one is never easy to deal with, but the grief can be even harder to overcome when you can’t lay them to rest.

“For more than a decade investigators have been following every line of inquiry in hope of ending the family’s search for answers.

“We hope we will soon be able allow them to properly – and respectfully – say goodbye,” Det Supt Willing.

Lateesha Nolan’s family assisted in the filming of Malcolm Naden: Australia’s Most Hunted made in the Moonan Flat and Barrington area by former Scone resident Brad Cone.

Brad Cone, centre, during filming of the Malcolm Naden documentary.

Mr Cone said the family of Lateesha had endured torture not knowing where she was and watching many in the community treat Malcolm Naden as an underdog evading police.

“The worst part of the story is that so many people thought of Malcolm Naden as a bush cult hero figure who evaded capture by the police, but the other side is for me, knowing what Naden actually did back in Dubbo to get that message right,” said Mr Cone.

“At the end of the day there are six young kids who are growing up without their mothers because of what he did, so part of that film was showing people the full story,” he said.

“For them, the torture they had been through, I mean they still don’t know the full story and he has made some half attempts to say what happened to her at the river in Dubbo, but there is still information that he is with-holding.

“So first they went from losing their mum and not knowing what happened to her and having seven years with him on the run and hearing all of these stories about how clever and cunning he was and to find out what happened to their mum, they have been through such torture,” he said.

“For them to tell their story was very emotional for them and it was hard for the police officers too who were close to them and they still keep in contact and they’ve created a memorial at the river where Leteesha was murdered,” Brad said.

Related story:
•    Filming Malcolm Naden’s Story