The mystery surrounding the death of Bolwarra Heights man Pip Manley has deepened after toxicology tests failed to determine how the 21-year-old died.
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Police confirmed no adverse levels of poison or illicit substances had been found in Mr Manley’s remains.
Autopsy results had previously shown no bruises or broken bones that would indicate the 21-year-old was hit by a passing car, which was an initial theory in the community.
Central Hunter crime manager Detective Inspector John Zdrilic said the investigation into Mr Manley’s death were ongoing.
He said police would tie up any loose ends in the case and interview Mr Manley’s friends and associates to try to find new information.
“There are more questions than statements in this matter,” Inspector Zdrilic said.
“Nothing adverse has come up in relation to toxicology. No poison or drugs were found in his system of adverse levels.
“As detectives, we will chase every rabbit down every hole.
“Anyone with information is urged to contact Maitland detectives or Crime Stoppers and information can be reported anonymously.”
The coroner will also investigate the cause of Mr Manley’s death.
Police had ordered the toxicology report, which took place in Sydney, two months ago.
Skeletal remains were found near the edge of Belmore Road during an extensively resourced police search for Mr Manley in the Lorn area on January 28.
Police confirmed the remains belonged to the 21-year-old, who was last seen alive near Marcellin Park in the early hours of November 22 last year.
Investigators had previously believed the last known sighting of Mr Manley was when his mother, Mary, dropped him off at Telarah train station to meet a friend on the evening of November 21.
But police gained vital information from social media in the days before the operation that gave them a later sighting of Mr Manley in the Lorn area, where his remains were found.
The case came to public attention when Mr Manley’s father, Jonathon, launched an appeal for information about his son’s whereabouts on January 6, as the search entered its second month.
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