Remains of gay man found after ten-year search
The remains of a missing gay man have been found near the Australian city of Sydney nearly ten years after he went missing.
The parents of Sydney man Matthew Leveson were told that skeletal remains belonged to their son.
They were found in dense bushland near the south of Sydney.
After DNA testing, the remains were confirmed as Mr Leveson’s. He went missing nearly ten years ago in 2007 after leaving a nightclub with his boyfriend.
“It’s confirmed that the remains found were that of Matthew Leveson,” a police spokeswoman said.
The 20-year-old wasn’t seen after leaving the ARQ nightclub in Darlinghurst with his boyfriend Michael Atkins.
The 50-year-old was acquitted of the murder of Leveson back in 2009.
Last year Arkins had led police to the burial site. He struck a deal for immunity to contempt of court and perjury.
Leveson’s remains were found beneath a cabbage-tree palm at around 2.30pm on Wednesday last week.
Then on Sunday the remains were confirmed as his.
Mr Leveson’s parents, Mark and Faye, said the never wanted to give up trying to find his body.
They had spent time at the site every day in the latest effort to find the body as well as two previous unsuccessful operations in January.
“It has now been CONFIRMED by DNA testing that the remains found WERE OF OUR BELOVED MATTY,” a post on the Justice for Matthew Leveson page reads.
“Our family would like to thank everyone from the bottom of our hearts. Especially our family and friends who have stuck by our side unwaveringly throughout our journey of finding our beautiful son, brother, cousin, soulmate, best friend and friend.”
Legal experts have weighed in to say that it is unlikely that fresh charges will be brought against Atkins.
