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  • 5 hours ago
The scientist who has led the research into the Somerton Man case says police are close to handing their findings to the coroner. But even when the Somerton Man’s identity is formally revealed, that will not end the intrigue that has surrounded the case for decades.

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00:02The Somerton Man has been an enduring mystery for almost 80 years.
00:07I think there will always be a public interest in the case,
00:11because there are still many unknown questions.
00:14The man's body was found on Adelaide's Somerton Beach in 1948,
00:19but no one was able to work out who he was.
00:21His body was exhumed from the West Terrace Cemetery five years ago,
00:25so police could identify him using DNA from his bones.
00:29You can't underestimate the impact on a family when a loved one goes missing.
00:34But four years ago, Professor Derek Abbott submitted the DNA in hairs he found
00:39on a plaster bust made of the Somerton Man to a genealogy website
00:43and found his relatives still living in Melbourne.
00:46I'm absolutely certain of my findings that his identity is Charles Webb,
00:51who is the son of a baker from Victoria, and it's beyond all reasonable doubt.
00:57SA Police says the investigation is complex and ongoing,
01:01and that it will provide a report to the coroner once it's completed.
01:05Professor Abbott says police have told him it should be done within the next two weeks.
01:10We're hopeful it will be done very soon.
01:13Once the coroner hands down the findings,
01:16Charles Webb's family will be able to decide whether to rebury him here
01:19at the West Terrace Cemetery or move him back home to Melbourne.
01:23But the family's told the ABC is likely he'll be reburied here in Adelaide.
01:27We're so excited to see you now.
01:28After a while, check out the other sofa's camera.
01:28Where does his room go?
01:28The other sofa says,
01:29he's a part of the family.
01:29Who can you do?
01:29that says he's to beướt.
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