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Skull of child or small person may have been deliberately placed in Gold Coast park, police say Skull of child or small person may have been deliberately placed in Gold Coast park, police say
(32 minutes later)
Bushwalker’s discovery in Springbrook national park leaves Queensland police with ‘a lot of questions we need answers for’Bushwalker’s discovery in Springbrook national park leaves Queensland police with ‘a lot of questions we need answers for’
A skull found in a national park may belong to a child and appears to have been deliberately placed.A skull found in a national park may belong to a child and appears to have been deliberately placed.
Police are investigating after a bushwalker made the gruesome discovery about 10 metres off a track in Springbrook national park on the Gold Coast on Friday morning.Police are investigating after a bushwalker made the gruesome discovery about 10 metres off a track in Springbrook national park on the Gold Coast on Friday morning.
Police say the skull is small and may belong to a child or a person of light build, and a crime scene has been declared. Police said the skull was small and may belong to a child or a person of light build. A crime scene had been declared.
“Initial suggestions are that the skull has been placed there,” Chief Supt Craig Hanlon said on Monday. He said further examinations, including DNA and carbon dating, could take months.“Initial suggestions are that the skull has been placed there,” Chief Supt Craig Hanlon said on Monday. He said further examinations, including DNA and carbon dating, could take months.
Forensic pathologists and a bone expert with Queensland police are examining the skull. Forensic pathologists and a bone expert with Queensland police were examining the skull.
There’s no evidence of a recent death or foul play in the area. There was no evidence of a recent death or foul play in the area.
“The skull looks like it has been in the conditions for a long time ... it wasn’t submerged or buried; it was lying on the ground,” Hanlon said.“The skull looks like it has been in the conditions for a long time ... it wasn’t submerged or buried; it was lying on the ground,” Hanlon said.
Springbrook national park is a popular tourist destination known for its lush rainforest and scenic hiking trails.Springbrook national park is a popular tourist destination known for its lush rainforest and scenic hiking trails.
Police are probing how the skull came to be in the park, with investigators exploring possibilities ranging from it being a misplaced museum artefact to a prank. Police were probing how the skull came to be in the park, with investigators exploring possibilities ranging from it being a misplaced museum artefact to a prank.
“There’s a lot of questions we need answers for, and that’s why our investigation is ongoing,” Hanlon said. “There’s a lot of questions we need answers for and that’s why our investigation is ongoing,” Hanlon said.
No other bones or evidence of criminal activity have been found in the area following a thorough search involving about 100 State Emergency Service volunteers.No other bones or evidence of criminal activity have been found in the area following a thorough search involving about 100 State Emergency Service volunteers.