Open finding for NSW woman's death

The death of Margaret Hills remains a mystery three years after her bones were discovered in Blue Mountains bushland, a court has found.

The Coroners Court issued an open finding on Monday on the cause and manner of the 60-year-old's death.

A frail and ill Mrs Hills had been reported missing by husband Ken in 2010 before her skeletal remains were found almost a year later in steep bushland three kilometres from their home.

Mr Hills told police he woke about 9.30am on February 2, 2010 and noticed his wife missing.

The back door was open and Mrs Hill had left without her wallet, credit cards, medicine and a water bottle she always carried, he said.

A week before she told her husband she had deliberately walked in front of a car.

Mrs Hills was suffering from chronic pain, mobility issues and depression following six spinal operations stemming from a workplace accident.

Leading up to her disappearance and death, the 60-year-old had been experiencing suicidal thoughts, but doctors said she expressed no intention to go through with actions to end her life.

The coroner ruled her death was unlikely due to misadventure, leaving the possibilities of a self-inflicted death, or murder.

The location of her skeletal remains on steep bushland under the Echo Point Lookout and the 60-year-old's ability to access the area cast doubts the death was a suicide.

But the coroner said there was also no evidence to suggest another person was involved.

Mr Hills had been charged with his wife's murder in September 2012, but the charges were later dropped.

* Readers seeking support and information about suicide prevention can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.