Police have found skeletal remains in bushland near Byron Bay after yesterday's search for missing Northern Rivers woman, Thea Liddle.

Officers from Tweed/Byron Police District – with the assistance of Northern Region Operational Support Group officers, the Public Order and Riot Squad, the Police Dog Unit and Police Rescue – were conducting an ongoing operation in relation to Thea's disappearance last year.

Officers located the skeletal remains in bushland off Tallow Beach Road, Byron Bay, about 1.20pm yesterday (Wednesday 15 July 2020).

A crime scene has been established and an investigation has been launched, with the assistance of the State Crime Command’s Homicide Squad and Missing Persons Registry.

Polcie reported it is too early to determine if the remains are male or female, but they will undergo forensic examination which could take weeks to complete.

"It is also too early to say whether the remains are linked to the ongoing search for the missing Northern NSW woman," Police reported.

ORIGINAL STORY: (July 15) Police search bushland for missing woman and call for public help

Police are searching bushland around the Byron Bay area for a missing woman described as “transient” by police 

Thea Liddle, 42, was known to frequent Nimbin and Byron Bay. She disappeared late last year and was last seen in the Mooball area on Thursday, October 31, 2019. 

Thea was known to have been residing in bushland in the months leading up to her disappearance.

She was reported as missing in January 2020 and earlier this year, detectives established Strike Force Holby to investigate the circumstances surrounding her disappearance.

Police are now re-appealing for public assistance as they continue to investigate her disappearance.

At the time of her disappearance, Thea was staying at a Mooball property with a then 46-year-old man. Strike force detectives have previously searched the rural property as part of their extensive inquiries.

Tweed/Byron Police District Commander, Superintendent Dave Roptell, said Thea didn’t have a permanent place of residence, so detectives are searching regular locations where many people are known to set up makeshift campsites in the Byron area.

“Thea lived a very transient lifestyle – shifting from place to place, changing campsites often and would opt for places in remote bushland away from the public,” Supt Roptell said.

“We are conducting thorough searches throughout these locations for any indication of Thea’s presence there.

“It wasn’t uncommon for Thea to travel throughout the Far North Coast, however, is it unusual for her to go this length of time without speaking to family members.

“As we have said before, we are extremely keen to speak to anyone who may have seen or spoken to Thea in late October or early November 2019, in and around the Far North Coast of NSW. Any piece of information may assist investigators,” Supt Roptell said.

Anyone with information about Thea’s disappearance is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au

Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report crime via NSW Police social media pages.