Police have found human remains close to where a missing 26-year-old man was last seen nearly two years ago near Nannup in Western Australia.
Detectives and forensics officers are at the scene near the Brockman Highway at Jalbarragup, where Corey O'Connell was last seen walking along the highway on June 24, 2021.
The find comes after Mr O'Connell's family, led by sister Haylee, organised a number of community searches for their brother and son.
Police said it would not be appropriate to speculate on whether the remains were Mr O'Connell's, but indicated they were linked to the search for him.
Inspector Geoff DeSanges said police went out to the scene after receiving a report from the member of the public.
"No identification has been confirmed, and we expect that identification will take some time," he said.
"At this time, it's not appropriate to speculate on whose the remains may be.
"However, the remains were located close to a search area for a man who has been missing since 2021."
He said while nothing suggested suspicious circumstances, police were keeping an open mind.
Mr O'Connell went missing in June 2021, and was last seen walking on the Brockman Highway.
His family led four searches for him, helped by community members.
Inspector O'Connell said police were working with the family.
Inspector DeSanges thanked those who had helped discover the remains, in deep bushland.
"Despite our efforts, sometimes it's members of the public, who end up being our eyes and ears and providing critical information," he said.
Mr O'Connell was last seen walking north towards Nannup.
His car was found abandoned and had run out of fuel.
Mr O'Connell's family believed he was struggling with his mental health at the time, and for a time there was hope he was living off the grid.
In August, his sister Haylee told the ABC that her beloved brother's disappearance was something she would "not wish on her worst enemy."
"It's the first thing I think about in the morning and it's the last thing I think about at night," she said.
