After 7 years missing, Tasmanian man Dale Nicholson is believed to have been located in a car underwater in the Derwent River near New Norfolk.
The man’s body was discovered late last night by independent missing persons Youtube investigator ‘Downunder Dan Diving’, who announced his team’s findings on social media this morning.
Dale was reportedly located in his 1993 model Ford Falcon sedan, which has since been pulled up from the riverbed.
Despite extensive searches and appeals for information, there had been no leads in the case until now.
Dale had been missing since December 11th, 2016, when he left his home in the morning to get the newspaper and breakfast and never returned.
His family reported him as missing the following day, and despite an “extensive search”, no trace was found at the time.
A 2021 coroner’s report found “all available evidence” pointed to him being dead, but was unable to make further findings.
The police have cordoned off the scene and are conducting an investigation into the circumstances of Dale’s death.
The independent search by the Youtubers was initially launched in the hopes of finding another missing Tasmanian man, Nicola Sallese, who has been missing since the 17th of November 2008. He was last seen driving through Sheffield, Tasmania in his silver Toyota Camry sedan.
Police have previously performed land and water searches at a number of highland lakes across Tasmania, but failed to locate him.
It is understood Nicholson was located within just 500 metres of his home.
READ THE STATEMENT FROM POLICE HERE:
Police can confirm human remains were located in New Norfolk on Sunday evening, in a vehicle registered to Dale Nicholson, who was reported missing in 2016.
Formal identification is yet to occur. A report will be prepared for the Coroner.
