Human remains found in renewed search for missing dad
Human remains have been found in the search for missing South Australian dad Joshua Clifton-Demell, more than seven months after he vanished.
The remains were found on Friday morning at Yorkey’s Crossing – beyond the original search zone, but close to where Clifton-Demell’s abandoned motorbike was found in January.
Human remains have been found in the search for missing South Australian dad Joshua Clifton-Demell, more than seven months after he vanished. 9News
Police said it is too early to formally confirm the identity of the remains, which will be sent for forensic testing.
The breakthrough follows a fresh search this week across 82 square kilometres of rugged terrain, where police and SES volunteers pushed through bad weather to comb the area past the original boundary lines.
Clifton-Demell, 40, was last seen on January 23 near Port Augusta after heading out for a motorbike ride with his cousin.
His brother, Tim Clifton, lived with Clifton-Demell and was among the last to see him.
He previously told 9News about the agonising seven-month wait for answers.
“Went out for a motorbike ride with one of our cousins, and he never returned,” Clifton said.
“They found the motorbike and never found him. It’s been hell, really thinking about what happened to my brother.”
In the days following the disappearance, Clifton searched the area himself and believed he found a potential clue near the abandoned bike.
“I found a set of footprints along the pipeline just on this side of the railway track leading back into town,” he said.
The breakthrough follows a fresh search this week across 82 square kilometres of rugged terrain. 9News
While officers never publicly linked those footprints to Joshua, the uncertainty weighed heavily on the family after the initial two-week search was called off earlier this year.
Police thanked the SES volunteers and local community members who helped search the area over the past seven months.
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