Human remains and jacket found in the search for a woman who mysteriously disappeared in the Australian desert in 2023

Human remains and clothing were found on Friday during the search for a Belgian citizen. Celine Cremerwho disappeared in 2023 in the Australian island state of Tasmania, police said.

The search for the 31-year-old woman was called off in July 2023, more than three weeks after she went missing in the island’s picturesque northwest, with police saying she could not have survived the freezing, wet weather.

He had left his car equipped for a light hike around Philosopher’s Falls in Waratah on June 20, the last day his mobile phone had signal, detectives said at the time.

Some human remains were found by a hiker Wednesday near Philosopher’s Falls, police said. On Friday, police said they had located more remains and clothing that investigators say likely belong to Cremer.

“Today’s search resulted in the discovery of additional bones, as well as items of clothing, including a fleece jacket, which we believe likely belong to Celine,” Commander Nathan Johnston said in a statement Friday.

Formal forensic confirmation of the identity will take time, but police said they believe the location and nature of the items found “indicate that they are likely Celine’s.”

His family has been informed, authorities said.

“We recognize how important these developments are to Celine’s family and are ensuring they receive updates as sensitively and quickly as possible,” Johnston said. “Our search team has continued to work until this afternoon and the plan is for police to continue methodologically searching the area tomorrow.”

Last month, an independent search group organized by friends and family of Cremer found his phone in the same area.

Her friends reported her missing to Tasmania Police on June 26, 2023 and the original search effort began the following day, police said.

By then, the area had already experienced an intense spell of winter weather, including below-freezing temperatures, snow and rain. Medical experts at the time warned police that Cremer could not have survived so many days in the desert under those conditions.