The family of a missing backpacker whose body was found after 23 years has spoken out.
Kellie Ann Carmichael was just 24 years old when she vanished on April 29, 2001.
She had checked out of a hostel in Katoomba, west of Sydney, Australia, and had headed out for a walk, telling hostel staff that she would return to collect her belongings.
Tragically, that was the last sighting of Kellie Ann, who never returned, and her whereabouts have remained a mystery until recently when remains that were discovered in the Blue Mountains were confirmed to be hers.
Bones were discovered in Katoomba last week by NSW Police and have been confirmed to belong to Kellie Ann.
Her parents, who live in Geelong, were told of the discovery by officers from the Unsolved Homicide Team, and have always believed their daughter was murdered.
NSW Police shared a statement saying: "During an unrelated police operation on Tuesday 30 April 2024, officers attached to Blue Mountains Police Area Command located human remains in bushland near Katoomba.
"Following inquires, police attended the same location on Monday 27 May, 2024, where they located further remains.
"The human remains initially located and seized have now been formally identified as those of missing person Kellie Ann Carmichael, and her family have now been notified."
Police are said to have been abseiling down a cliff as part of an unrelated search when they spotted the remains, which are being examined to see if a cause of death can be determined.
While her official cause of death is currently unknown, her parents have always believed she was killed rather than had taken her own life.
Her mother, Margaret Carmichael, told the Geelong Advertiser that her daughter, who had been diagnosed with schizophrenia, would never have taken her own life, explaining: "We know that, and everyone who knew her knows that.
"She wasn't well at the time but she loved life and was a beautiful girl."
Her father, John Carmichael, said that the developments had taken their toll on the couple, who are hoping to take Kellie Ann's remains home and lay her to rest.
Her cousin, Andrew Carmichael, added that the news was a complete shock to the family, who have endless questions about how she died.
Kellie Ann had first been reported missing after John and Margaret hadn't had contact with her in almost a week, and had phoned the hostel she had been staying at to be told that she had checked out on April 29, 2001.
Staff said that her ID, wallet, cell phone, cards, camera, and toiletries were all found in her room, per The Sun.
Margaret told media at the time: "I feel like we’ve been robbed of having our daughter, grandchildren. Our life is never going to be the same."
Mystery had surrounded Kellie Ann's disappearance, with possible theories being that she was murdered - potentially by a serial killer - or had taken her own life.
Areas in the Blue Mountains were cordoned off as an extensive search began after she was reported missing, but no solid leads were found at the time,
Kellie Ann was declared dead at a 2009 inquest by deputy coroner Carl Milovanovich, eight years after she went missing.
