Police have located a body in bushland on the New South Wales mid-north coast, believed to be that of a man missing for three weeks.
Discovery in Old Bar
The grim discovery was made by officers at approximately 2:00 pm on Monday, December 30, 2025. The body was found in dense bushland near Old Bar Road in the coastal locality of Old Bar.
While formal identification procedures are still underway, authorities strongly believe the body is that of 37-year-old Christopher Bonds. Bonds was last seen alive at 10:00 am on December 9 on Red Gum Road in Old Bar, which is situated roughly 18 kilometres east of the regional centre of Taree.
Extensive search launched
The Manning-Great Lakes Police District was alerted to Bonds' disappearance shortly after he was last seen. As concern grew, investigators launched a public appeal for information on December 12, urging anyone with knowledge of his whereabouts to come forward.
The search involved local police and likely spanned the surrounding bushland and coastal areas near where he was last seen. The discovery this week brings a tragic conclusion to the three-week investigation.
Report for the Coroner
Police have confirmed that a report is now being prepared for the information of the Coroner. This is a standard procedure in cases of sudden or unexplained death.
The Coroner's Court will examine the circumstances surrounding Bonds' death. The findings may take some time as investigators complete their inquiries and await any relevant post-mortem results.
The local community in Old Bar and the wider Manning-Great Lakes region is now coming to terms with the sad outcome after weeks of uncertainty.
