A missing grandmother has been identified as the woman whose remains were found partially submerged inside a remote livestock dip, eight months after she vanished.
Yvonne Whear, 73, was last seen on February 19, driving near Murwillumbah in NSW's Northern Rivers.
Police are treating her death as a homicide.
Searches earlier in the year turned up no trace of Ms Whear, until her gold Ford Escape was found on a riverbed at Rous River on September 12.
Police were then called to bushland in Terragon, about 16km southwest of Murwillumbah, on October 5 after reports of a body from trail bike riders.
Officers retrieved the body from the stock dip, used to treat animals with pesticides, at the time.
Acting Superintendent Matt Zimmer confirmed on Tuesday that the remains belonged to Ms Whear.
The news left her family and the local community distraught, Act Supt Zimmer said.
"The news of Yvonne's death in these circumstances is tragic. Her family are devastated… they have described this loss as unimaginable grief, and you can't comprehend what they are going through this morning," the Tweed/Byron commander said.
"Yvonne's death has not only affected her family; it's also had a significant impact upon the local community. It's created distress, and it has created some concern in what is a very tight regional community."
Police and the family previously appealed for assistance during wide-ranging searches for the grandmother.
"Someone out there knows something," her daughter, Gillian Hallac, had previously pleaded.
"Even the smallest detail could help bring Mum home, and we're begging people to share what they know. Our family, especially her grandchildren – need answers."
Act Supt Zimmerman extended that appeal on Tuesday.
"If you do hold information, I'd ask you to consider what (Ms Whear's) family are going through right at the moment, the grief they are suffering," he said.
He would not reveal, however, what evidence police had gathered so far.
He said there was no cause for further alarm based on the information held by police.
Ms Whear was last sighted at a service station on Queensland Road, believed to have been travelling home to Dungay.
Act Supt Zimmerman previously revealed the body was badly decomposed upon discovery in the dip, located on crown land.
He said it was difficult to determine how long the remains had been at the site.