The remains of underworld figure Terrence Blewitt were found buried in a shallow grave at a Thomastown dumping ground yesterday.
Mr Blewitt, 53, was last seen on April 12, 2004 by his partner who reported him missing after he was dropped off on the corner of Lachlan and Hume streets in Melton by a friend but failed to return home the following day.
Purana Task Force detectives located his remains, on January 20, three metres below the surface during a search of an industrial property in Pelmet Crescent as part of the investigation into Mr Blewitt’s disappearance.
A team of archaeologists and an excavator were called in to shift more than 4000 cubic metres of dirt and rubble in their search.
Police alleged Mr Blewitt was part of the hit team that killed gangland Graham Kinniburgh and that the slaying was ordered by drug kingpin Carl Williams as part of his war against the Moran crime family.
Mr Kinniburgh was killed in December 2003 when he was allegedly confronted by an offender outside his home in Belmont Avenue, Kew.
Stephen John Asling, 55, was charged in November last year with murder in relation to his death.
Purana Detective Inspector Andrew Gustke said a human skeleton had been found but it could be weeks before it was confirmed, through dental records, that it was Mr Blewitt.
“This find was very significant for our investigation,” Detective Inspector Gustke said.
“What we’re doing here in relation to our investigation has been a complex and protracted process.
“We’ve had the excavator move a lot of dirt and now we have to go in by hand and meticulously go through the crime scene.”
The Thomastown property was used as a scrap yard until 2006 when it was excavated and turned into a vacant lot.
Police said the current owner of the property has no connection to the investigation.
Investigators received information that Mr Blewitt had met with foul play at the time of his disappearance, Detective Inspector Gustke said
“Purana Taskforce investigators have taken hundreds of statements and interviewed hundreds of people during these investigations.
“Its that information that lead us to the location.
“We owe it to the family and friends of any victim of crime to investigate and do our very best to bring out some justice for them, and that’s what we are hoping to achieve with this discovery.”
Anyone with information should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au
