Body of woman murdered 15 years ago found in backyard
Searchers look for the body of Patricia Riggs in 2012, 11 years after her disappearance. Photo: AAP
A Sunshine Coast man has been charged with the murder of a woman missing since late 2001 after her remains were uncovered at the weekend.
Patricia Anne Riggs, a mother of four, was last seen at her home in Margate, north of Brisbane, on September 30, 2001.
She was reported missing to police by her husband three days later.
Detective Senior Sergeant Ben Fadian said her remains were discovered in Margate by a resident conducting excavation work at his home last Sunday.
“He notified the police and as a result we conducted a crime scene examination and recovered those remains,” Detective Senior Sergeant Fadian said.
“Those remains were examined yesterday afternoon and identified as Patricia Riggs.”
A 57-year-old man from Dicky Beach has been charged with murder and misconduct with a corpse.
He will appear in Redcliffe Magistrates Court today.
