A missing Newcastle man, 22-year-old Jayden Penno-Tompsett, has been confirmed deceased after human remains found on a rural Queensland property were identified as his, bringing a nine-year search to a close.

Police in north Queensland have identified the human remains discovered at a Breddan property near Charters Towers as Jayden Penno-Tompsett, who vanished on December 31, 2017.

Forensic DNA analysis confirmed the remains belong to Penno-Tompsett, and a coronial investigation is now underway with a report to be prepared for the coroner.

A coronial report is forthcoming, following DNA confirmation of the identity.

The discovery followed an extensive land search by multiple agencies in January 2018, with remains later identified after a breakthrough in October of the previous year at the Breddan property.

The remains were found on October 20 last year at Breddan, a rural area on the outskirts of Charters Towers along the Flinders Highway, about 140 kilometres inland from Townsville, triggering a crime-scene declaration.

Penno-Tompsett was last seen in the early hours of December 31, 2017, near a roadhouse on the Flinders Highway in Charters Towers, while traveling from Newcastle to Cairns for New Year’s celebrations.

He disappeared while en route from Newcastle to Cairns, with the last sighting in Charters Towers at a Flinders Highway roadhouse.

A 2021 coroner’s inquest previously concluded Penno-Tompsett likely died from exposure after leaving his car, with reports noting he had used drugs during the trip and became agitated after failing to locate a stash of MDMA.

The coroner has ruled out foul play in Penno-Tompsett’s death.

A Facebook page dedicated to finding Penno-Tompsett confirmed the identification and urged privacy for his family during this difficult time.

Authorities will prepare a report for the coroner to determine further legal and investigative steps.