Human remains found near ute of missing Queensland mother

“I’ve just been updated by the search team in the area,” Watts said.

“I can advise that human remains have been located about one kilometre from the vehicle.

Loading

“Although we cannot confirm at this stage that those remains are of Taylor, we suspect they may be.

“That’s probably all I can really share with you at the moment.”

Moments earlier Watts had been calling for information from the public on Spies’ whereabouts following the discovery of the vehicle.

He said the pink shirt worn by the Spies on the day she went missing had been found in the ute by investigators.

The landowner – who has no known links to Spies – believed the ute was not on his property two weeks ago, and might have been left there recently.

“The property has some areas heavily wooded, but also some open paddocks,” Watts said.

“Where the vehicle was located was about two kilometres into the property from the road, so you would not have seen this vehicle from the road.

“You’d have had to drive through the driveway of the land and then go through another gate.

“The car is now being towed back to Roma to be fully examined by our scientific experts.”

He did not say if police believed Spies was murdered.

“We’ve always had an open mind about the disappearance and we have great concerns.”

Spies’ family has been notified of the discovery.

“Our family as a whole are really struggling,” sister Rebecca Spies previously told Brisbane Times.

“I can’t speak for everybody else, but I can say that this has really affected me in ways that I never thought it would.”

“Tayla and I have matching tattoos. Hers says ‘you keep me wild’, and mine says ‘you keep me safe’, and she really has always made sure that I am safe and well looked after.

“Never in a million years did we think that this would be our life right now.”

Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.