Human remains have been exhumed and the dig ended in the search for South Australian woman Colleen Adams, who had been missing for 45 years.
Mrs Adams' husband, Geoffrey Adams, led police to the burial site earlier this week before he faced court charged with her murder.
Discovered in the backyard of the Maitland home the couple shared with their young children, the recovery effort was made difficult by the consistency of the soil.
"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," Detective Superintendent Bray said after the discovery on Thursday.
The hole dug by police in the yard will now be filled and the tenants of the house allowed to move back in.
The couple's youngest daughter, Kaye, visited the site on Thursday 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."
Australian Associated Press
