The daughter of a cold case murder victim holds high-hopes for other families after her mother’s remains were found 45 years after she vanished.
Skeletal remnants of Colleen Adams were dug up by police on Thursday afternoon after the mother-of-two went missing from their South Australian home in 1973.
Mrs Adams was found under a concrete slab at the home she shared with her husband Geoffrey Adams in Maitland.
Remains believed to be those of Colleen Adams were uncovered from the family’s home
‘After 45 years of hoping, we have found her,’ Kaye Adams’ statement read (pictured)
In a heartbreaking statement, the victim’s youngest daughter, Kaye Adams, said it was a day ‘of inspiration to all those who live with cold cases’.
The letter, which was read by a support victim officer said, ‘after 45 years of hoping, we have found her.
‘I want (yesterday) to also be (a day) of inspiration to all those who live with cold cases, lost loved ones. Not knowing what happened.’
‘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.’
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
Pictured: Colleen and Geoffrey Adams with their eldest daughter, Marie, in the same backyard skeletal remains were uncovered on Thursday afternoon
Nine years after the mother-of-two disappeared, another doting parent vanished from her Sydney home in a eerily similar case.
Lynette Dawson was a registered nurse of the well-heeled northern beaches has been missing since January 9, 1982.
At the age of 36, Mrs Dawson vanished from her Bayview home which she shared with her husband Chris Dawson – who is a suspect of in her disappearance and presumed death her murder.
A short time after the remains were discovered, Colleen’s youngest daughter spoke (pictured middle with police)
Mr Dawson who was a P.E teacher and former footballer for the Newtown Jets was in a sexual relationship with his 16-year-old school girl lover, Joanne Curtis who later slipped in to their marital bed just weeks after Mrs Dawson disappeared.
Now age 70, Mr Dawson vehemently denies murdering his former wife despite two coroners, in 2001 and 2003, recommended he be charged with her murder.
Police have now re-opened an investigation in to the death of the Mrs Dawson excavated the pool area of their former Sydney home.
Lynette Dawson (right)- who was a registered nurse of the well-heeled northern beaches has been missing since January 9, 1982. Her husband Chris Dawson (left) who is a suspect in her disappearance and presumed death
The remains of the missing mother-of-two are yet to be found.
Colleen’s accused killer, Geoffrey Adams, 70, was arrested in his Wallaroo home on Wednesday. He faced court on Thursday, charged with her murder.
The property was cordoned off as a crime scene and covered with a tent overnight, before police began their dig on Thursday morning.
At the age of 36, Mrs Dawson vanished from her Bayview home. The remains of the missing mother-of-two are yet to be found
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.
Authorities now face the delicate task of uncovering Ms Adams’ (pictured) remains from the site, which had only recently become subject to forensic searches
Kaye was only 18-months-old when her mother vanished. Her older sister, Marie, was three-years-old.
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.
Geoffrey Adams (pictured), 70, has been charged over the cold case murder of his wife 45 years after she went missing.
‘(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.
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.
Skeletal remains have been uncovered in the backyard of cold case murder victim Colleen Adams’ family home
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
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.
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