Remains believed to be those of South Australian woman Colleen Adams have been found 45 years after she went missing, as her husband faced court charged with her murder.
The body was discovered on the site of the couple's former home at Maitland, on the Yorke Peninsula, after Geoffrey Adams was arrested and pointed police to the property.
SA Police Detective-Superintendent Des Bray said the skeletal remains were found about 1pm on Thursday.
"She was in the area indicated to us and discovered about one hour ago, and we've made the necessary notifications since then," Detective Superintendent Bray said.
"It's going to be some time before we can make a formal identification but we are proceeding on the basis that the remains are those of Colleen."
The discovery came a short time before the couple's youngest daughter, Kaye, visited the site and delivered a statement to the media through victim contact officer Debbie Gibson.
"Today I have finally found my mother," the statement said.
"After 45 years of hoping, we have found her.
"It's hard to say in a few words what I am feeling, but I am so grateful to the South Australian police and everyone who has worked to help find her."
Kaye, who was 18 months old when her mother vanished, said she is thankful that the truth has come out, and she has now put her faith in the legal system.
"I want today to also be one of inspiration to all those who live with cold cases, lost loved ones, not knowing what has happened," she said.
Geoffrey Adams appeared by video-link in the Kadina Magistrates Court on Thursday, after he spent the night in custody at Port Pirie.
He did not apply for bail and was remanded in custody to reappear before the court in October.
Adams had previously told police he awoke about 7am on Thursday November 22, 1973, to find Mrs Adams fully dressed with two packed suitcases.
According to Adams, she said she was leaving and never wanted to see him or the children again, before getting into a car with a middle-aged woman he did not know.
Mrs Adams was reported missing by her mother about a month later, but the case was not declared a major crime until 1979.
Claudine Lehner lives across the street from the house and said she was shocked to hear Mr Adams had been charged with his wife's murder.
"I just couldn't believe it, it was just out of the realm of reality in our little world," she said.
"The fact that poor lovely young girl that I only saw that time at birthing classes was lying in a cold grave ... to know (her) babies are left without their mother to grow up, it's just awful."
Australian Associated Press
