Murder victim’s torso found in wheelie bin, other body parts still missing

South Australian police have identified the decomposing remains of a body hid in a wheelie bin on a vacant property.

The victim of a “brutal murder” has been identified as 55-year-old Geoffrey McLean, who was reported missing on August 29.

On Friday, Detective Inspector Brett Featherby confirmed SA Police had only located Mr McLean’s torso, with the rest of his remains yet to be found.

“I can confirm today the remains were those of missing person Geoffrey McLean. Geoffrey's identification was confirmed late last night through DNA testing. And thus we are now aware it was him that was located at that location,” Detective Inspector Featherby said.

“Geoffrey’s immediate family have been notified today of the identification and they’ve been assisted by our victim contact officer to ensure their welfare, due to the nature in which these remains have been located.

“Efforts are now firmly focused on recovery of the rest of Geoffrey's remains and identifying those persons responsible for his brutal murder. Evidence at the scene suggests that some persons or a person was in the process of burying those remains and they might have been disturbed at that location.”

He said police had collected CCTV footage from Cheviot Rd in Salisbury South, where Mr McLean’s body was located, and now believe there was more than one person involved in the murder.

Police believe whoever is responsible planned to bury Mr McLean’s remains on the property and may have been disturbed or “were just lazy, and left his remains at that location”.

Mr McLean, who was the father of a 10-year-old child, had been the victim of four violent attacks earlier in the year, which involved acid being thrown over him, and being hit in the head with a log splitter which left him with critical injuries.

Police believe his murder was in relation to those earlier attacks.

“The gruesome nature of Geoffrey's murder will have a profound effect on his family, his friends and his loved ones and I’ll ask anyone that has knowledge of where his remains might be that we haven’t located today to contact the police, no matter how small the information is to assist us and support his family,” Inspector Featherby said.

“As with any of these offences, we’ll investigate family, friends and associates to identify whether they actually have had involvement in the offence, or whether they’re actually innocent in relation to the offence.”

Inspector Featherby said there was evidence plans to bury Mr McLean on the property were in place, but police have a number of theories related to the motive.

The remains were found by a worker cutting grass on an empty block in Salisbury South about 2pm on Monday, with police unable to immediately identify the body and forensic tests ordered.

Police are appealing to anyone who may have seen anyone near the block at 23 Cheviot Rd, Salisbury South, or has any information on activity in the area to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. Investigations continue.