The youngest daughter of a cold case murder victim has broken down after her mother’s remains were found in the family’s backyard.
Skeletal remains believed to be those of Colleen Adams have been dug up by police on Thursday afternoon, 45 years after the mother-of-two first went missing from their South Australian home in 1973.
Her husband, Geoffrey Adams, 70, was arrested in his Wallaroo home on Wednesday.
He faced court on Thursday, charged with her murder.
Skeletal remains have been uncovered in the backyard of cold case murder victim Colleen Adams’ family home
‘After 45 years of hoping, we have found her,’ Kaye Adams’ statement read (pictured)
The property was cordoned off as a crime scene and covered with a tent overnight, before police began their dig on Thursday morning.
Heavy machinery was brought in at about 10.30am to assist in the effort.
Head of Major Crime, Des Bray, told Adelaide Now police located the remains at about 1pm.
‘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.’
A short time after the remains were discovered, Colleen’s youngest daughter spoke (pictured middle with police)
Remains believed to be those of Colleen Adams were uncovered from the family’s home
A short time later, Kaye Adams, the youngest daughter of Colleen, issued a statement, read by a support victim officer.
‘Today I have finally found my mother,’ it read.
‘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 was only 18-months-old when her mother vanished. Her older sister, Marie, was three-years-old.
Ms Adams’ youngest daughter, Kaye Adams, said she was thankful her mother had been found. Colleen Adams had been missing for 45 years. Pictured: A victim support officer
Pictured: Colleen and Geoffrey Adams with their eldest daughter, Marie, in the same backyard skeletal remains were uncovered on Thursday afternoon
Their father and Colleen’s husband, Geoffrey Adams, appeared via video-link in Kadina Magistrates Court on Thursday morning.
The court heard that Adams had earlier confessed, Adelaide Now reports.
‘(Adams) did admit to the crime that he has been charged with,’ Police prosecutor acting Sergeant Frank Jakacic said.
‘He further identified the site where police are currently in the process of excavating.’
He did not apply for bail and was remanded to reappear before the court in October.
The excavation began after the investigation was launched on Wednesday evening.
Astonishing footage showed Mr Adams pointing to a spot in the driveway of the home he once shared with his wife.
Adams, accompanied by detectives, walked into his former yard and pointed out a concrete slab before appearing emotionally distraught, Nine News reported.
Geoffrey Adams (pictured), 70, has been charged over the cold case murder of his wife 45 years after she went missing.
A detective then spray painted a large rectangular shape above where officers now believe the remains of Ms Adams are buried.
Adams took a final look back at the backyard before being taken to Kadina Police Station and charged with his wife’s murder.
He has previously claimed his wife packed two suitcases and told him he never wanted to see him or their two children again, before getting in a car with a middle-aged woman.
Chilling footage captured the moment Adams, accompanied by detectives, walked into his former yard and pointed out a concrete slab, underneath is believed to be his wife’s remains
Authorities now face the delicate task of uncovering Ms Adams’ (pictured) remains from the site, which had only recently become subject to forensic searches
Less than 24 hours before his arrest on Wednesday, he maintained his story in a television interview.
‘I just hope that she’s well and enjoying life yeah,’ he said.
Ms Adams was reported missing by her mother about a month later, with the case not being declared a major crime until 1979.
The couple’s daughters were aged 18 months and three at the time. Relatives told police Ms Adams was a doting and loving mother who would never abandon her children, according to The Advertiser.
Mr Adams has never strayed from his initial statement that his wife wanted a divorce, and never lodged a missing person report.
Authorities now face the delicate task of uncovering Ms Adams’ remains from the site, which had only recently become subject to forensic searches
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