Detectives investigating the suspicious death of a Dorrigo woman ten years ago last week called off the excavation of bushland on Kalang Road, near Bellingen, previously used by council staff to dispose of euthanased dogs.

North region Unsolved Homicide Team detectives began the search on Monday (Nov 3) for the skeletal remains of Bernadette Donaldson, who was 46 at the time of her disappearance in 1998.

Detective Senior Constable Pat Gleeson said they had found nothing remarkable, but this was not the end of the investigation.

“We’ll continue to prepare a further brief of evidence and present it to the State Coroner,” Constable Gleeson said. “We will ask the Coroner to re-open the inquest.”

He was unable to say if and when that would happen.

Constable Gleeson praised the co-operation of the Bellingen and Dorrigo communities in the matter. “I urge anyone with information relating to the death of Ms Donaldson to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or the Unsolved Homicide Team on 049 290 991.