A human skull discovered near a Tasmanian beach in 2023 has been identified as belonging to a man who went missing after reporting being assaulted by drug dealers more than 25 years ago.
Edward Harold Tait was last seen alive in the Hobart area on November 30, 1999, after visiting Centrelink offices and renting a Housing Tasmania unit.
The human remains were discovered by a local man who was clearing weeds at his property at Clifton Beach on July 5, 2023.
Investigators later identified a possible family connection to the deceased person through genealogical records, and the skull was later confirmed as Mr Tait's through a DNA match with his biological sister, Helen Tait.
According to a report by coroner Madeleine Wilson, published on August 25, Mr Tait had been estranged from his family and had never been reported missing.
He had immigrated to Australia in 1988 from Scotland, and was 28 when he was last seen alive in 1999.
The report said Ms Tait told investigators that her brother had claimed to have travelled to India and swallowed illicit drugs to import them into the country.
He told her that he had been assaulted because he owed people money for drugs.
Ms Tait last saw her brother in a chance meeting on a Melbourne street.
She said he appeared to be under the influence of drugs, and spoke to her "in riddles".
Ms Tait was unaware that her brother had travelled to Tasmania.
Tasmania Police Missing Persons Unit Senior Constable Lucy Brown discovered traces of Mr Tait's movements in Tasmania, the report read.
"Investigations revealed that Mr Tait had resided at hotels and men's shelters in the Greater Hobart area during August and September 1999," Ms Wilson wrote.
"Housing Tasmania records showed that Mr Tait's application to rent a unit at 36 Stainforth Court, New Town was approved on 17 September 1999, but the rental agreement was terminated on 19 March 2000, as the unit had been 'abandoned'".
He was last confirmed alive on November 30, 1999, when he contacted Centrelink in person regarding his Newstart allowance, the coroner noted.
"Senior Constable Brown conducted numerous other investigations, none of which produced any proof of life after 30 November 1999."
Ms Wilson said that, based on the investigation and the DNA evidence available, she was satisfied "on the balance of probabilities" that the skull found at Clifton Beach belonged to Mr Tait.
She said the discovery of a pair of shoes, with one of them containing an orthotic insert, provided additional confirmation.
Ms Wilson had noted earlier in her report that Mr Tait was born with a congenital defect which resulted in one of his legs being shorter than the other.
Ms Wilson said she was unable to determine exactly how Mr Tait died.
No other parts of the deceased man's skeleton were ever located, and parts of the skull that was found were missing, Ms Wilson noted.
"As such the forensic pathologist was unable to determine the cause of the individual's death," Ms Wilson's report read.
"At some time after 30 November 1999, Mr Tait stayed in a makeshift shelter on property at Clifton Beach Road, Clifton Beach.
"He died at or near the makeshift shelter on an unknown date,"